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THE AUTHOR 



Zhc Stor^ of 

Xancastet: Olb anb IRew 

Being a Narrative History of Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania, from 1730 to the Centennial 
Year, 1918 

BY 

WILLIAM RIDDLE 

Author of "Nicholas Comenius, or Ye Pennsylvania Schoolmaster of ye 

Olden Time,'* "One Hundred and Fifty Years of School History in 

Lancaster, Pennsylvania," "The Founder's Return," "A Tribute 

to Old Lancaster," and "Cherished Memories." 



Dedicated to the Citizens of "New Lancaster" 



WITH n ILLUSTRATIONS 



LANCASTER, PA. 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 

1917 






Copyrighted, 1917 
By William Riddle 



/ 



AUG 291917 



PRESSOR 

THE NEW ERA PRINTING COMPANY 

LANCASTER. PA. 



=i'CI,A470911 

-Vvr ' 



INTRODUCTION 

Much has been written of the early history of 
Lancaster city, but it remained for the present 
octogenarian author to unearth facts of interest, of 
no httle moment, hitherto unpubhshed. In his 
assiduous researches he uncovered records to which 
previous historians apparently had not access. The 
result is a volume that contributes valuable addition 
to the store of local historical chronology. 

The work, however, is not a mere insipid recital 
of dates with their associate incidents. With the 
historical fact is woven a narrative in which liberal 
scope is given to the play of the imagination, senti- 
ment and romance. The old life of the community 
is contrasted entertainingly with the new. Informa- 
tive deductions are drawn therefrom, upon which 
the author, from time to time, philosophizes, basing 
his conclusions upon the varied experiences and 
analytical observations of a long life. 

The narrative opens with an account of the estab- 
lishment in Lancaster of the county seat, and con- 
tinues through the colonial period down to the time 
of the city's incorporation. This period, when the 
government was administered by the Burgesses, is 
described with much detail that portrays the pic- 
tiu'esque and piquant flavor of the time. Instances 
in which the author finds praise worthy to be de- 
served, it is bestowed freely, and when censure is 



IV LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

felt to be warranted it is not withheld. Still, "the 
quality of mercy is not strained," but the reader 
will be gratified to discover that, in the unbiased 
judgment of the author, there is more to laud than 
to condemn. 

Following 1818, when the city was granted its 
charter, the narrative continues through several 
administrations of the early Mayors, relating to the 
slow but soHd development of the municipality. 
This brings the record to a period within the author's 
recollection and affords him opportunity to indulge 
in reminiscences of his childhood, many incidents of 
which are vividly told. 

Pubhshed on the advent of the city's centennial 
anniversary, the volume has special timeliness and 
it will occupy its just place as one of the outstanding 
features of the celebration. But as an epitome of 
the cardinal events in the pioneer days of this com- 
munity, conspicuous for its share in the building of 
the State and Nation, it will serve a much larger 
purpose as a residuum of ready and permanent 
reference for all future time. 

Perusal of the work wiU stimulate and foster local 
pride. As the author well says, too Httle is known 
by the present generation of the deeds of their sires, 
and the conmaunity that enjoys a heritage of history 
so abundantly rich in praiseworthy achievement as 
Lancaster, is lamentably lacking when it fails either 
in acquiring knowledge of the facts or in doing them 
reverence. 

B. Ovid Musselman. 



THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE 

It was in the year 1905 that the chronicler issued 
his " One Hundred and Fifty Years of School History 
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania." This somewhat com- 
prehensive work, having met with the hearty ap- 
proval of all classes interested in our pubhc school 
system, naturally created a desire on the part of 
the compiler to follow it with a narrative of Lan- 
caster as a municipality. Having gone through 
several histories of city and county, it soon became 
evident that they were intended as books of reference 
rather than to be read by the average reader, who 
has little time to leaf over five or six hundred pages 
in getting what might be had out of a smaller volume 
written in the shape of a narrative. 

Three reasons may be given for entering upon this 
work at the age of four score, when most men are 
content to rest from their labors after a somewhat 
long, busy life. The first, that the chronicler was 
born in "Old Lancaster," in the year 1837; the 
second, to be kept busy, feeling that the secret of 
old age isn't so much that of years, as in keeping 
the mind employed, if not in a business sense, at 
least in a fine of work conducive to peace and con- 
tentment. In both of these, the chronicler has 
found the pleasm-e afforded as old age comes creep- 
ing on. 

The third and all-important reason is yet to be 



VI LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

stated. For many years the writer had been looking 
forward to 1918, when the various city organizations 
might meet to arrange to celebrate, in a becoming 
way, the one hundredth anniversary of Lancaster, 
which dates back to 1742, when the townstead be- 
came a borough under the charter by Act of Assembly 
of the Province of Pennsylvania. 

There was still one other reason for turning 
chronicler — a desire to aid in keeping the name 
Lancaster on the map, and where it might be seen 
by men with money to invest, on their way from the 
Pacific to the Atlantic, instead of going to either 
New York or Philadelphia for bargains. These, 
I knew, could be had right in my own home town, 
whether the passenger station remain where it is or 
be removed to the cut-off. 

With the chronicler the town's future doesn't, 
after all, rest so much in the location of the station, 
as in the people themselves. Instead of showing 
the city's advantages as a center of intellectual 
worth and literary attainment, it has become a 
chronic habit with otherwise well-meaning people to 
discount their own home city on the principle that 
"'tis distance lends enchantment to the view." 

The chronicler has ofttimes Hstened to praise 
showered upon the progressiveness of other towns 
when contrasted with their own home city of Lan- 
caster. Conclusions are only too frequently hastily 
reached in prospective, of this or that city's inner 
life, without reflecting for a moment concerning its 
own worries and troubles. 

Unless greatly mistaken, it is the rule rather than 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE Vil 

the exception for those who have resided in Lan- 
caster for any length of time, to speak in the fullness 
of their hearts of our town's social, industrial and 
commercial Hfe, as not excelled by any other city 
in the union of states. 

With a good many of our city's otherwise well- 
thinking people it is famiUarity breeds contempt; 
they know not, nor do they seem to care for Lan- 
caster's past, and how, from a village of a few 
hundred it has gradually grown — if by slow strides — 
to its present status of over fifty thousand inhabi- 
tants, in possession of a heritage of which any people 
might well feel proud. 

In order then to aid all interested in Lancaster's 
present and future, it shall be the chronicler's purpose 
to carry them back in imagination to the year 1742, 
and thence almost to the beginning of this twentieth 
century. We have reason to feel that, after having 
shown how "Old Lancaster" started, confronting 
almost insurmountable obstacles, there may be much 
to praise and httle to condemn. 

If the author at times gives way to his inward 
emotions in passing judgment on prevailing condi- 
tions, he is only exercising a God-given right to 
discuss in his own way what he believes is for the 
city's present and future. We have ofttimes over- 
heard men speak exultingly of progress made by 
this or that other municipality, and yet, when asked 
to contribute the widow's mite in making their own 
more healthy, beautiful and enterprising as a place 
in which to bring up their famihes, they go their 
way, saying, "As the town was good enough for 



vm LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

our ancestors, it ought to be good enough for our 
descendants." 

Possibly, in the union of states there may be other 
cities more desirable in which to dwell, but we 
doubt it I While it might be better, it will compare 
favorably with the great majority of other Pennsyl- 
vania towns of high or low degree. It shall be shown, 
and without maHce, that Lancaster didn't spring up 
over night hke a western mushroom town with more 
unoccupied space than can be covered with homes 
for a century to come. Of course, it may not suit 
everybody's whims and caprices, and yet where can 
be found a better class of dwellers than right here in 
the center of the richest agricultural county in 
America? If our local government doesn't suit those 
who vote "straight" and do the growhng on their 
way home from the polls, they have it in their power 
to change conditions. But the chronicler's experi- 
ence, running back a good many years, is that, as a 
community, we chng too closely to our former habits 
and traditions. It should not be forgotten that, 
while we are not Hving back in the days of our fore- 
fathers, when young and old, rich and poor lived 
as happily together without strangers as with them, 
we have inherited some of their slow-going ways. 
But, as the reader shall in due time learn, these were 
not at all times a disadvantage. It may be within 
the recollection of many of our citizens to recall 
how, a third of a century ago, certain industrial 
cities of the State were thrown into a panic over the 
failure of a number of big concerns. At the time 
Lancaster, with its smaller industries, had met with 
few failures. 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE ix 

However, since the seventies, as a city we have 
become more Hberally disposed in throwing wide 
open the town's gates to all who may enter as law- 
abiding citizens in trying to make the city what it 
must eventually become — a "Greater Lancaster." 
But, after all, much depends on the meaning of this 
slogan, so frequently indulged in by the enthusiast 
without any clearly defined idea of its significance. 
A greater Lancaster doesn't by any means consist 
alone in spreading out beyond the town's limits of 
two miles square. While this may seem desirable, 
there is still much of "Old Lancaster" that needs 
looking after. No city is judged alone by the 
number of acres it covers. Men who have settled 
in Lancaster have done so largely on account of its 
home fife, its churches, and schools. Of course, 
without industries — and the more the better — the 
city of Lancaster would drift back to its former 
status when the town's people Hved largely by, for 
and within themselves. 

At no time within the chronicler's recollection 
have the people as a class shown a greater spirit of 
progress than at the present day, in keeping the 
name Lancaster on the map. This is no newly 
coined term; it was in vogue during Revolutionary 
times when the patriotic men and women of "Old 
Lancaster" were in no way found wanting in their 
devotion to home and country. 

In giving expression to another fine of thought, 
the average twentieth-century citizen has Httle time 
for what is old. Friends passed away are remem- 
bered but for a short time and then forgotten — 



X LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

unless, perchance, a legacy be forthcoming. Friend- 
ships such as existed when men wore crepe on the 
left arm for thirty days as a mark of respect for the 
departed, is considered a useless waste of the raw 
material, better suited for other purposes. Old land- 
marks are swept aside with impunity, even though 
one or the other be the homestead of this or that 
dweller in which he was born and reared. 

We go in search of the almighty dollar, or, if not 
for the dollar, at least for the man who possesses it. 
Happily men of this kind are the exception. We 
verily beheve there is no other city in the union of 
states in which the well-to-do are more Hberally 
disposed in helping along every worthy cause than 
right here in "New Lancaster." This has been 
made only too clear when "calls" for charity and 
other beneficent purposes are made in a becoming 
spirit. As for our city's rehgious, moral and social 
life, it might be improved, and yet the chronicler is 
of the opinion that it will compare favorably with 
other cities in the forty-eight states of the Union. 

However, it is really astonishing how Httle is 
known by the average person of how the town grew 
from an insignificant hamlet of a few hundred in 
1730 to an empire surrounded by all the comforts 
which should in no way make us envious even of 
our neighbors hving on the opposite fines of our two 
miles square. But one of these days they wiU be 
knocking at the door for entrance to our municipafity 
to help to pay the city taxes! But why become 
envious? Health and wealth we have, some with 
more, others with less; and yet few have cause to 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE XI 

complain. Of one thing there isn't any shortage as 
in times gone by — filtered water — with an ample 
supply to be either used or wasted. Think of seven 
million gallons consumed daily by the fifty thousand 
of the city's inhabitants! The only way to account 
for the quantity consumed every twenty-four hours 
is that it has taken the place of such stimulants as 
used to be indulged in when "muddy" water drove 
a good many of the male population to resort to 
other means of quenching an inherent thirst. So 
let us be thankful for small favors, with larger ones 
in proportion. 

And these larger ones are our churches, our schools, 
our Lancaster County Historical Society, the A. 
Herr Smith Memorial Library, the Young Men's 
and Young Women's Christian Associations, the 
Iris Club, Patriotic Daughters of the Revolution, 
Stevens Industrial School, hospitals, the Long Home 
and the Home for Friendless Children, not to over- 
look the ministerial workers, whom some people 
don't like for a way they have of meddling with 
their own private affairs. However, with a httle 
patience, they may learn of how the Burgesses had 
the town constable patrol the streets of the town- 
stead, gathering in all tipplers and other violators 
of Acts of Assembly. 

Of parks we have our Buchanan, Long, Rocky 
Springs and, last though not least, our WilHamson's — 
a "place of beauty and a joy forever," especially 
during the "good old summer time." In addition, 
we have our Chamber of Commerce, City Councils, 
with the hope that they may pull together instead 



xii LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

of apart in making the coming Centennial of Lan- 
caster's first century as a municipality a crowning 
success. We know that our system of street cars, 
the best in the country, will join with the Auto- 
mobile Club in making the occasion a complete 
success. Then, with the Brunswick, Stevens, and 
others, not to forget our picture shows. 

To have one's lot cast in such a favored spot as 
Lancaster, what more could any people desire? 
What more.^ Only that our schools do their part in 
creating a greater love for their county's history! 
What signifies a mind overcrowded with non- 
essentials .^^ Ask any high school boy the simplest 
question relating to the city of his birth, and the 
chances are his reply will cause you to think that 
much of our free-school education is out of pro- 
portion to its cost. 

And here to conclude the preface, let all boys 
stand up and take notice! What all school boards 
have a right to expect for the money invested is to 
know that a substantial return follows in the making 
of good citizens, loyal in time of peace and equally 
loyal in time of war. Without the love of parents, 
home and country, all education counts for naught. 
This is equally apphcable to girls. 

To finally conclude with what another has written, 
and which are the author's sentiments: "I love my 
home better than any other home, my city better 
than any other city, my county better than any 
other county, my State better than any other in 
the Union, and my country better than any other 
country in the world." 

The Author. 



CONTENTS 

Introduction iii 

Author's Preface v 

A Preliminary War Episode 1 

Part I 

Chapter 

I. The Start of the Town in 1730 10 

II. The Hearty Greeting of a Long-lost 

Volume 22 

III. Continuation of Complaints by the In- 

habitants 34 

IV. An Awakening of the Borough of "Old 

Lancaster" to Higher Ideals 46 

V. The Incoming of a New Era for the 

Borough of Lancaster 60 

VI. The Election of Burgess Edward Hand, 

of Revolutionary Fame 72 

VII. Recommendation by the Grand Inquest, 
Resulting in the Building of City 

Hall .. 85 

VIII. Opinion of City Sohcitor Slay maker as 

to the Founder's Bequest 96 

IX. The Estabhshing of a Bank in Lan- 
caster 106 

Part II 

X. Lancaster a City after Seventy-six 

Years of Burgess Rule 121 

2 xiii 



xiv LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

XI. The Incoming of the Railroad Through 

Lancaster 141 

XII. Our Venerated Grandmothers and 

Granddaughters 160 

XIII. Forcing the Water from the Old City 

Mill into the City 176 

XIV. The Ambition of Lancaster to Become 

the Capital of the State 184 

XV. Move for a Court of Appeal. The Tax- 
payers' Redress 197 

XVI. Society of Master Mechanics for the 

Poor Boys of Lancaster 207 

XVII. First Move to Bring Gas Into the City 

Very Discouraging 216 

XVIII. Dismanthng of the Old Jail, and Build- 
ing of the New Prison. James Bu- 
chanan's Bequest 226 

XIX. Removal of Councils and Court from 

the Court House to Fulton Hall 240 

XX. Lancaster Jockey Club. Two-forty on 

the Plank Road for Speeders 249 

XXI. Changes in City Life are Like the 

Changes of the Seasons 261 

XXII. Nine Years of Municipal Rule of the 

Much-respected George Sanderson. . 271 
Index 283 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



4 ^ 
15 V 



24 
51^ 



The Author Frontispiece 

The Liberty Bell Facing p 

Birds-Eye View of Old Lancaster ... " " 

Postlethwait's Tavern " 

James Hamilton, Founder of Lan- 
caster, Pa " 

West King Street about 1850 " 

Conestoga Wagon 75 

Old Colonial Fireplace 109 

George Ross Mansion in Colonial Times 109 

Old Jail, West King and Prince Streets 120 

Modern Jail, as it Stood About 1852 120 

North Queen Street After Completion of Rail- 
road 154 

General Lafayette Facing p. 164 *^ 

Old Buildings in Lancaster City .... 

Old Water Works, Built 1836-7 

Water Committee which Built Pres- 
ent Water Works 

View of Water Works about 1900 . . . 

The Old Court House 

City Hall as it Appeared in 1855 . . . 

Frankhn College 

Franklin and Marshall College, Built 

1854 

Center Square as it Appears Today . 



x' 







180 •^ 






180^ 






194 






202^^ 






234 «/ 






244 '/ 






253 , 






256^ 






270 V- 



LANCASTER : OLD AND NEW 



A PRELIMINARY WAR EPISODE 

It was after penning the preface, happy in the 
thought of what the harvest was to be, that the 
ringing of bells and the blowing of whistles, came to 
remind the narrator that the only kind of a story 
worth the reading at the present time would be a 
war episode. 

It was along at the time the first contingent of 
young soldier boys went their way to the Rio 
Grande, there to uphold the nation's flag of red, 
white and blue. Months had gone by with the 
danger of war with Mexico subsiding, when came the 
President's proclamation, calling the young men to 
do battle in a foreign land. Reaching the station, 
in paying a last tribute to the boys, surrounded by 
mothers and sweethearts, it was only the octo- 
genarian's age that kept him from joining the ranks. 

Meeting with a war veteran who had done service 
in the war between the States during the sixties of 
the past century, as we strolled our way to the 
author's "den," he had many a graphic story to 
relate of bygone days. Entering, and after glancing 
the preface over, he exclaimed, "You, my octo- 
genarian friend, have undertaken a most com- 
mendable work in starting to write the story of 
your own native city, but you must not forget to pay 
homage to the boys who have enhsted to do honor 
to their Country's flag of red, white and blue." 

1 



2 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

And, as we sat discussing the war, in his versatile 
way he related the following episode, which the 
chronicler has decided to weave into his narrative 
as preliminary. And while it has little bearing on 
what is to follow in the story's evolution, it may 
be in keeping with these war times. And so, as it 
came it shall pass muster with no apology on the 
part of the octogenarian author. Bracing himself 
in his easy reclining chair, his visitor began: 

"It was during my boyhood, away back in the 
middle fifties of the past century, that a lad of 
my own age was taken by his father on a packet- 
boat from Reigart's Landing by canal and tide- 
water to the Chesapeake, thence up through another 
canal to the Delaware River, on the opposite side 
of which stood the great big town of Phildelphy, 
as we lads called what has since become the city of 
'Brotherly Love.' 

"For days we stay-at-home lads hung round the 
wharf, awaiting the return of the packet-boat. 
And so, one July evening, from off the boat our 
visiting lad stepped, and so styhshly dressed that, 
for a time, none of us waiting lads knew him! This 
was owing to the fact that he had been taken to a 
Phildelphy tailor and fitted out in a brand new 
suit of red, white and blue; red jacket, white cap, 
blue trousers. Instead of kips, such as we poor lads 
wore, on his feet were a pair of calfskin with red 
tops! But what made us poor stay-at-homers so 
thumpin' mad was, that our daddies didn't have the 
big, round silver dollars to pay our way to Phildelphy 
on the 'Edward Coleman'! Putting our heads 



A PRELIMINARY WAR EPISODE 3 

together we just made up our minds to dump him 
overboard into the Conestoga! But catching on to 
the trick, he took us all into the cabin, where he 
emptied his pockets of his Phildelphy goodies. 

"Dropped him overboard! No, bless you, no! 
We dubbed him 'Red, White and Blue,' a nickname 
by which he was known until the breaking out of the 
great war of the sixties, when he enhsted to be 
dubbed the 'Little Color Bearer' in carrying the 
flag of red, white and blue. 

"But not to get ahead of my story: It was only 
after patting him on the back that he began telling 
us town 'greenies' that he had stopped at the 
'Bull's Head,' one of the biggest taverns in the 
town of Phildelphy with so many rooms that he 
couldn't count them. And as for the size of the 
town of Phildelphy, one of the constables had told 
him that it was so big that it couldn't be seen for 
the houses! This was such a puzzler that not one 
of us home-chappies could get into our heads by 
either the single or double rule o' three. 

"At last, in deahng out another supply of 'love- 
letters,' he told us all about a visit he had made to 
'Independence Hall,' to see what had been told him 
was the 'Liberty Bell.' But, oh glory, when he 
drew from his blue jacket pocket a picture of the 
'bell,' and a likeness of George Washington, the 
Father of his Country, and who had never told a 
'fib' even to his mother, somehow or other we all 
got to like our boy-traveler the more for having 
been to Phildelphy to see the 'sights'! But when 
one of our 'gang' asked him why he hadn't brought 



4 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

the bell with him so that we might take a good look 
at it, he only smiled one of his Phildelphy smiles, 
adding that we were too dumb to get in out of the 
rain. This silly question was asked because, at the 
time, the Liberty Bell to our minds didn't differ 
except in size from the one which hung high up in 
the belfry of the Lutheran steeple. Again, American 
history hadn't as yet been taught in the lower grades 
of schools. 

"As further recalled after these many years, our 
boy visitor to Phildelphy hadn't a word to say of 
how, in 1776, the Bell had pealed out the glad tidings 
of how the colonies had freed themselves from 
Great Britain's rule. Altogether, to'- our untutored 
minds, it was just the kind of a bell as had called 
us boys to Sabbath school on each recurring Sunday. 

"If, then," continued my veteran friend, with a 
twinkle of his deep-sunken eyes, " 'The Liberty Bell' 
was viewed by us lads more through ciuiosity than 
for the cause it represented, how different in this 
twentieth century! Why, only a year or two ago 
it was carried, draped with the Stars and Stripes, 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Lakes 
to the Gulf for the admiration of young and old. 

"Ah, yes," he went on in his reminiscent way, "it 
took almost a century to revive the latent spirit of 
Revolutionary times; but now, wherever the *Beir 
goes, words of good cheer go forth for this emblem 
of our country's greatness and glory!" Rising to 
his feet, with outstretched arm he asked, "Where 
in the union of states hves there a young man who 
wouldn't buckle on the armor in defence of the cause 




Courtesy Portland Oregonian 



THE LIBERTY BELL 



A PRELIMINARY WAR EPISODE 5 

for which the ' Liberty Bell ' stands, the preservation 
of the Stars and Stripes of the *flag' of red, white 
and blue? 

"Do you know," he continued, resuming his seat, 
"that following the great war, I was given to think- 
ing that patriotism was one of the lost virtues, but 
with war and rumors of war resounding in our ears, 
I am inclined to the opinion that the same spirit 
of patriotic devotion to our country and its flag is 
as dominant as in the year 1861 when the young 
soldiers marched in defence of an undivided union 
of states." 

Drawing from his vest-pocket a sHp of paper on 
which was a miniature picture of the United States 
flag, he read the foUowing : 




For right is right, since God is God, 

And right the day must win, 
To doubt would be disloyalty, 

To falter would be sin. 

Glancing at his timepiece, he was about to depart 
when, hesitating, he went on uninterrupted, "You 
would scarcely believe that it was only a week ago 
that my boy-comrade of more than sixty years ago 
and your veteran friend went our way to the great 
big city of Philadelphia, not however, on a packet 
boat but in an automobile, both as octogenarians. 
Viewed through his narrow boy vision, its streets 
were lighted by the dim gas lamps, but now by elec- 
tricity, making night ahnost as bright as day. 



6 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"It's a great age, isn't it?" he continued, as his 
voice grew stronger; "Why, think of it, seven de- 
cades ago, my young chummy rode in an omnibus; 
later, on this our visit, we took the underground tube 
from the Pennsylvania station to the Delaware. At 
the time referred to, 'Old Phildelphy' extended but 
a short distance west of the Schuylkill, beyond which 
even Fairmount Park was httle more than an un- 
broken wilderness — now a perfect ' Garden of Eden,' 
and wherein even Adam and his beloved Eve would 
be willing to rest content were they permitted to 
return to hve their lives over in this earthly Para- 
dise." 

Rushing to the window, my veteran exclaimed, 
"Whence comes the music reaching our ears? Oh, 
it's only the town-band saluting more of the young 
soldier boys on their way to the recruiting stations; 
but mark an octogenarian's predictions, it won't be 
many days until the letter carrier will be coming 
along with letters for sweethearts and dear old 
mothers! 

"And now," resuming his seat, "have you ever 
seen a mother clasp her son to her bosom as he 
stepped over the threshold to go forth in patriotic 
devotion in support of home and country? This is 
what happened more than half a century ago, and 
may happen again. Who can tell? 

" In mention of letter carriers," he resumed, "have 
you ever seen a fond, anxious-hearted mother 
standing at the front door, awaiting the carrier as 
he approaches with a bundle of letters, but none 
from her dear boy? But watch this same disap- 



A PRELIMINARY WAR EPISODE 7 

pointed mother of the day previous, maybe, the 
morning following: If close by, you cannot fail to 
hear her exclaim, *At last, at last has come the long 
looked-for letter from my dear son!' 

"Keeping within hearing distance, you may hear 
her as she breaks the seal and reads aloud page after 
page of how the absent one is getting along away 
down by the Rio Grande ! * Oh, oh ! And just listen, 
he writes his mother that he will soon be back with the 
other boys ! And where is " Daddy " ? Call him in.' 
And as he sits himself down with both ears wide open 
what more can he do but to give way to a deep sigh, 
as he recalls how he himself left his good old mother 
years before to join the Army of the Potomac at 
the sound of the drum and fife? " 

Changing his trend of thought as he sat blowing 
the blue smoke of a stogy in graceful ringlets, he 
continued, "By some writer, it has been said that 
the boys of this twentieth century are actually 
dropping out of their home-nests before they can 
fly, and that scarcely one out of a hundred continues 
to live in the same house in which he was born. 
Taking unto himself wings, away he flies, leaving 
the old mother bird thinking how long it will be until 
her wandering child returns. But who, with a 
family of either boys or girls, would ever think of 
keeping them forever at home.^ And possibly for 
the reason that home is everywhere, and no longer 
as in ye olden time, embraced in one's city or county." 

And before taking his departure, my octogenarian 
friend added, "It used to be said before the breaking 
out of the European war, that home was to be found 



8 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

on an Atlantic steamer. This must have been so 
before the 'Lusitania' went down, otherwise there 
wouldn't have been so many excursionists making 
these ocean palaces of splendor their migratory 
homes. But — but, when the war is over, all travel 
will be resumed." 

And as the narrator bade his veteran friend a final 
goodbye before leaving for the Soldiers' Home in 
the city of Washington, his last parting words were, 
"There is after all compensation; instead of going to 
Florida in the winter or to the Yellowstone in the 
summer, those who cannot afford the expense can, 
for a dime or a nickel, go to a picture-show, there 
to witness scenes from every part of the world. And 
after having feasted their eyes on sights such as we 
octogenarians had never witnessed, all they have to 
do on reaching the pavement is to enter a trolley 
or an automobile to be taken to their homes whether 
far or near." 

Purely a flight of the chronicler's imagination? 
In part only, for, on the fourteenth of January, came 
the boys referred to, to gladden the hearts of loved 
ones anxiously awaiting their return from the Rio 
Grande. And as a fitting conclusion, let it be said 
that, while the narrative is not to be turned into a 
war-story, who can say that the foregoing episode 
does not touch a tender chord in the hearts of all 
patriotic mothers in knowing what has hitherto 
happened may happen again before the volume 
reaches this or that home with anxious mothers 
standing at the front door awaiting the delivery 
man.^ 



A PRELIMINARY WAR EPISODE 9 

As a final passing, fitting tribute to the boys, it 
is the duty of all true-hearted American citizens of 
whatever nationality to stand shoulder to shoulder 
by the President of this great Repubhc — the young 
men possibly to go to war, the mothers, wives and 
sweethearts to give encouragement in upholding 
their country's flag of red, white and blue, the 
emblem of our cherished hberty, with the pledge 
that right must prevail though the heavens fall. 

In weaving into the story the foregoing imaginary 
episode, if you please, dear reader, no apology needs 
be made by the chronicler; he has only given way 
to such thoughts as have permeated all sections of 
our common country, such as each bulletin inspires 
as displayed from each newspaper window. With 
these sentiments, it is the chronicler's hope that 
before the volume is issued from the press, the war- 
clouds which darken the horizon may be hfted with 
each bulletin bringing the cheerful news that right 
over wrong has prevailed. If exception be taken by 
the critically disposed, let them not forget that all 
things are fair in love and war. The chronicler can 
only conclude the musings of a young girl as she sat 
in a corner repeating. 

In dust lies genius and glory, 

But ev'ry-day talent will pay. 
It's only the old, old story. 

But the piece is repeated each day. 



PART I 



CHAPTER I 

The Start of the Town in 1730 

One hundred eighty and seven years ago, forty- 
eight years after the arrival of Wilham Penn on the 
shores of the Delaware, two years before George 
Washington was born, and fully four decades before 
the Declaration was proclaimed in Independence 
Hall in Philadelphia, the name Lancaster, Pennsyl- 
vania, was already on the map, and there it has 
remained down until the close of this, the year of our 
Lord 1917. 

During these one hundred and eighty-seven years, 
more than seven generations of dwellers have come, 
played their part and then passed silently away to 
be remembered for a time, then forgotten. The 
history of this city of fifty thousand, if gathered by 
the chronicler, must be largely from musty records 
stored away among the archives of other decayed 
volumes that have served their day and generation. 
To resurrect these has been not only a duty but a 
pleasure on the part of the chronicler, actuated with 
the same desire as have others in rummaging through 
some old book-shop, sometimes through idle curi- 
osity, at others, to bring into light things that have 

10 



THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730 11 

long since become old! In tiring of what is new, 
and by which he is daily surrounded, the souvenir 
hunter is ever on the go in search of bric-a-brac and 
other mementoes bearing the mark of age. 

Having undertaken the task of compiler, we think 
we can measure the depth of understanding of most 
readers who, in addition to statistics, want a httle 
of the human presented in readable shape to while 
away many a gloomy moment during these times of 
trouble in the midst of war and rumors of war. And 
so, if, in the narrative, anything appears to provoke 
a smile, well and good; on the other hand, if what 
you cannot approve, let it pass muster, for the 
reason that in this world there are "many minds of 
many kinds," all differing as one star differs from 
another, and yet all able to trace their beginning 
back to the "Garden of Eden," where both Adam 
and his beloved Eve lived happily together, until, 
through Eve's wanting to have the last word in an 
argument as to the proper way of bringing up their 
two sons, both were compelled to pass from the 
garden to end their days pretty much as their de- 
scendants down even to the present day. 

However, our city is not to end its career over 
trifles. Unless greatly mistaken, it is to take on a 
new lease of uninterrupted prosperity. The same 
spirit which has dominated our people in the past 
will carry them along through this war, only to reap 
greater blessings at its close. 

In the year 1730, when the name Lancaster was 
placed on the map, the plot of two miles square 
didn't have as many homes as in this twentieth 



12 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

century, nor was it as well and favorably known as 
were a few of the New England towns following the 
arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers at a somewhat earUer 
period. 

At the time when the name Lancaster was placed 
on the map, there were but three other counties in 
Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Bucks and the mother- 
county, Chester, from which our own was separated 
in 1729. 

In searching the pages of history, the compiler 
has been unable to find any reference to the state of 
mind in which the goodly Quakers found themselves 
after having parted with such an extended scope of 
country as that contained, at least, in our present 
nine hundred square miles, rich in all things that 
should make a people contented and happy. 

As the part lying west of the Octoraro had, as 
early as 1709, become settled by Swiss Mennonites 
and Scotch-Irish, with the Conestoga Indians causing 
trouble, the inference to be drawn is that the quiet, 
peaceful Quakers were only too willing to cast off 
their troublesome neighbors. And yet it is only 
reasonable to infer that, before a century had gone 
by, it began to dawn upon the minds of their descend- 
ants that they had parted with the richest plot of 
soil in the United States. Of course, as a soothing 
balm to their wounded pride, came the consoHng 
reflection that their forefathers had gotten rid of 
many of the "Dutch," better able and at the same 
time more willing to remove the tall oaks and 
hickories before the soil could be utilized for farming 
purposes. 



THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730 13 

At the time the county of Lancaster was separated 
from Chester it covered a pretty large number of 
acres of Penn's extended domain of about 45,000 
square miles. As this was more land than the people 
of Lancaster County cared to farm even on the 
shares, in 1749 it gave enough of its broad acres 
to form the county of York. Again, in 1752, when 
"Old Berks" wanted to set up housekeeping, Lan- 
caster, with Philadelphia and Chester, gave another 
allotted portion of her soil. Next came Dauphin in 
1785, taking yet another sKce. Again, for the last 
time in 1818, Lancaster joined Dauphin County 
with enough of what couldn't readily be utilized, 
in forming the small Dutch county of Lebanon. 
It will be observed, however, that while the people of 
Lancaster County were liberally disposed, they took 
good care to hold fast to the very best of their former 
holdings, aggregating some nine hundred square 
miles. And for this our fore-parents are to be con- 
gratulated. They might have thrown to Lebanon 
the Conewago hills with the numerous boulders 
cropping out here and there, of httle use even for 
ballast. 

Not to claim all the credit, each of the counties 
separated from Lancaster gave enough of their land 
to form some sixty odd other counties, all embraced 
within William Penn's forty-five thousand square 
miles extending from the Delaware to the Ohio and 
from the lakes to its southern boundary. 

However, in seeking still another reason for the 
separation of Lancaster from the mother county of 
Chester, it might have been owing to the dialect of 



14 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

various nationalities to suit the English-speaking 
Quakers; for, at the time, under the wise dispensa- 
tion of Penn, all were allowed to worship according 
to their conscience and in their own way without 
asking permission of the Quakers, and in any 
language, provided they observed the laws of the 
Province and those of Great Britain. Of course, 
the narrator hasn't submitted the foregoing reflec- 
tions to the Chester County Historical Society to 
deny or aflfirm their correctness. 

Having settled the question of how the county of 
Lancaster happened to be formed, the query natur- 
ally arises, "Who was James Hamilton, the town's 
foimder? " Born in the townstead of Philadelphia in 
1710, at the death of his father, Andrew, he became 
one of the wealthiest, as well as one of the most 
influential citizens of Pennsylvania. Like most pub- 
lic men of that day, the father of James had selected 
and purchased lands in various parts of the Province 
in expectation of a rise in value. Some of these were 
where "New Lancaster" now stands. Whether it 
was one single plot of twenty-five hundred acres 
handed over to his son James, or in parcels, may be 
made the more clear as the narrative continues. 

It has been said that young Hamilton was one of 
the wealthiest of the townstead of Philadelphia. 
He was a member of the Provincial Assembly in 
1834; mayor of Philadelphia in 1745; Lieutenant 
Governor, 1748. Again appointed Governor, 1759; 
and for the third time, 1763. He was the only 
Pennsylvanian appointed to the position of Lieu- 
tenant Governor after the death of Penn, 1718. 
James died in New York, 1783, at the age of 73. 



THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730 15 

At the time the county was separated from Chester 
in 1729, this young man couldn't have been more 
than in his twentieth year, and yet a year later, in 
1730, he was handed over, if not all, at least the 
larger portion of what constitutes the city of Lan- 
caster of today. It would be adding stupidity to 
Andrew Hamilton's shrewdness and alertness even 
to suppose that he didn't know what was going on 
at Postlethwait's. Well he knew that the court of 
the county was being held at the tavern of John 
Postlethwait, with another rival a dozen miles 
further up the river, called "Wright's Ferry," and 
where a jail for evil-doers had abeady been erected 
and around which hangs a tale of absorbing interest, 
as set forth by historian Rupp in his "History of 
Lancaster County," pubhshed in 1844. 

Further mention might be made of Postlethwait's 
were it not that only a few years ago the Lancaster 
County Historical Society erected a tablet there to 
the memory of landlord Postlethwait and numerous 
descendants, no doubt for their great-grandfather's 
disappointment. 

But how came the townstead to be named Lan- 
caster? It was given by that invincible Quaker, 
John Wright, in honor of his own home town, 
Lancashire, England. If at the time the name 
Lancaster seemed appropriate for the new-born 
county, it was equally appropriate for the county 
seat. 

Having made perfectly clear that young James 
Hamilton did start out in search of his legacy after 
receiving full instructions from his father, it only 



16 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

remains for the chronicler to describe his journey 
through an ahnost unbroken wilderness beset with 
dangers on every side. 

And what were his father's instructions? To 
make post-haste in reaching the plot in time to have 
it made the seat of justice, for well he knew or 
should have known that, unless this could be accom- 
plished, all his plans might come to naught. But 
how did young James go.^^ In a four-horse chaise 
surrounded by a retinue of personal friends? This 
isn't hkely for, at the time, the only pathway was 
an Indian trail. The one sensible conclusion to be 
reached is that he started out on a beautiful spring 
morning with an Indian guide — both on horseback. 
Following the same line of reasoning, his first stop- 
over must have been in the village of West Chester, 
where he rested over night with the Quaker landlord 
who had no doubt been advised of his coming. That 
he was kindly received by the young ladies of "sweet 
eighteen" is scarcely open to doubt. Young, 
wealthy, well-groomed, with a most striking per- 
sonality, as his life-size picture shows, in addition 
to his being a bachelor, it would indeed have been 
strange for this gallant young man of twenty to have 
entered the hamlet without his advent becoming 
known to the leading citizens. Of how he was 
entertained can only be imagined. And yet, apart 
from the town's social life, there must have been a 
few trappers ready to interview their distinguished 
visitor as to his purpose in going so far from home. 
Nor is it assuming too much to infer that James 
wasn't likewise a Httle anxious to learn what had 



THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730 17 

taken place with reference to the location of the 
permanent seat of justice. The danger he well knew 
lay in procrastination, for, at the time, a week's 
delay might in all probability have decided the 
question in favor of one or the other of the sites 
already mentioned. 

Following James Hamilton in imagination as he 
followed the trail, it is safe to assume that he did 
reach the Conestoga over which spans the present 
Witmer bridge. However, as this magnificent struc- 
ture was not erected until nearly sixty years later, 
he must have forded his way across. Safely over, 
on reaching the crest of the steep incUne known as 
"Pott's Hill," who can say that he did not feel 
himself as much rejoiced as had De Soto after 
reaching the mighty waters of the Mississippi.^ 
Being religiously inchned, who can deny that he 
knelt down to offer up a prayer on reaching the fine 
separating his two miles square from the county's 
other acres P The chronicler can only regret his 
inabihty to locate the exact spot where this prayer 
was offered, otherwise a tablet might long since have 
been erected by the Lancaster County Historical 
Society to his memory. 

What occurred after the weary traveler had 
reached the Gibson Inn, certain local historians have 
given as follows: "James Hamilton offered the four 
commissioners, Caleb Pierce, John Wright, Thomas 
Edwards and James Mitchell, five places, 'Old 
Indian field,' 'High plain,' 'Gibson's pasture' with 
'Sanderson's,' the other, 'The Waving Hills,' bound- 
ed by 'Roaring Brook' on the west. Whether the 



18 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

two swamps, one called 'Dark Hazel,' the other 
'The Long's,' were included in the offer to seal the 
bargain may be taken for granted, inasmuch as 
these were a part of the land grant of two miles 
square." 

History makes only too clear that the founder did 
transact business with the afore-mentioned commis- 
sioners under the hickory tree close by the famous 
spring, also that at least three of the four did possibly 
yield their former convictions to the persuasive elo- 
quence of James Hamilton ! Had this been otherwise, 
the plot whereon our city now rests might never have 
been the seat of justice of the new-born county of 
Lancaster. Had this actually happened, no one 
living in this twentieth century can imagine the 
result. Thankful then that the seat of justice was 
not permanently continued at the tavern of 'John 
Postlethwait, or, if not there, at Wright's Ferry, 
now Columbia. 

Having settled the question of the location of the 
capital of Lancaster County right here in our midst, 
what the chronicler would like to do is to picture to 
the reader the status of the hamlet during the twelve 
years of its village life. This cannot be done for 
the reason that down to the time it became a borough 
in 1742, if any minutes were kept, they must have 
been lost. However, enough has been written by 
travelers to show that this community of about 
two hundred trappers, settlers and Indians residing 
around the log court house must have been a strange 
mixture, but how governed we have no means of 
knowing. We have made dihgent search among at 
least a half dozen families who can trace their 



THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730 19 

ancestors back to 1730, but without recompense for 
the time and labor required. It cannot be that 
they were fearful lest the chronicler give the public 
what they desired most to suppress, their pohtical 
and financial status. 

Only recently the narrator was met by a gentleman 
residing in a mansion surrounded by all the com- 
forts which twentieth century prosperity can bring. 
Having decided to make inquiry into his family 
tree, his purpose was to enHst the chronicler in 
looking up his lineal ancestors. This thankless task 
was undertaken, only to discover that his pro- 
genitors were poor in this world's goods, that neither 
of his numerous family had ever held a pubHc ofiice 
except that of town constable. Reference is here 
made to this inquiry to show that it is not well for 
anyone to go too far back in looking up his family 
record. 

And here the question may arise. What reason 
had James Hamilton in 1742 to turn the village 
into a borough? Judging himself as Httle different 
from the present-day land-owner, his purpose must 
have been to find a more ready sale for choice lots 
around Penn Square, either for ready cash in pounds, 
shilhngs and pence, or on the ground-rent plan. And 
who among the business men of "New Lancaster" 
can say that the founder did not have an eye single 
to what was coming to him when it is recalled that 
these desirable business sites have been growing 
in value ever since 1742 down even to the close of 
this year 1917? 

From the best information obtainable from writers 
who visited the hamlet as early as 1742, there could 



20 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

not have been enough inhabitants to seat the Hamil- 
ton Theatre with a capacity of at least a thousand. 
Imagine the whole town's population crowded into 
the "Hamilton" on a Satiu'day evening? 

However, as we come to think it over, the owner 
of this handsome structure is to be congratulated in 
naming it "The Hamilton," although few of its 
frequenters know after which Hamilton it was 
christened. Making inquiry from the owner as to 
his right to the name, he rephed, after a moment's 
hesitation, "To keep the founder's name on the 
map." 

In glancing over the city directory, the chronicler 
was surprised to find that at least three others had 
appropriated the name Hamilton without a permit 
from the agent of the Hamilton estate. Entering 
the largest watch factory in the world, designated 
"The Hamilton," in answer to certain pointed 
questions as to how the company had come by the 
slogan, the inquisitor was poHtely informed that the 
name had been handed down by "James" himself, 
and for the reason that the identical timepiece he 
had carried with him in the laying out of the town- 
stead of two miles square had been manufactiued by 
the company at present bearing the slogan "The 
Hamilton." Having been shown the reHc, the 
author was assured that it had been running without 
winding for one hundred and eighty-seven years! 
Whispering in the off ear of the office boy, the 
chronicler impertinently asked how long it would 
rim if wound occasionally? 

The reply not being very satisfactory, the chron- 
icler went his way in search of the "Hamilton Hat 



THE START OF THE TOWN IN 1730 21 

Company." Asking to be shown a high-top beaver 
of the latest design suitable for attending a funeral, 
from a case came one bearing the name inside, 
"James Hamilton." This was handed the searcher 
with the assurance that it had been discovered on 
the loft of the Gibson Inn before it had been dis- 
mantled. 

Satisfied that the dealer in hats was justified in 
having appropriated the name Hamilton without 
having had it copyrighted, the chronicler went his 
way in search of the "Hamilton Club" for a little 
something soothing to ward off a congestive chill. 
Meeting "George," the accompHshed truthful cat- 
erer, his guest was handed a draught from a decanter 
labeled "Gibson." Being a Httle skeptical as to 
the genuineness of the brand, his friend was assured 
that the first invoice had just arrived by parcel post 
from the Gibson still around which there weren't 
any twentieth century members of the town's Law 
and Order Society. Satisfied beyond all doubt that 
the business men of "New Lancaster" knew how to 
boost their trade in honor of James Hamilton, off 
to the "Hamilton Apartment" house the chronicler 
went his way in search of the builder. Seeing the 
name "Hamilton" carved over the entrance, up one 
flight of steps, then another, the octogenarian 
trudged his weary hmbs to be informed by two 
score inmates that the builder, Hamilton, had been 
summoned before Saint Peter for having appro- 
priated the slogan without a written permit from 
founder Hamilton. 

And so ends the chapter, semi-historical, semi- 
traditional. 



CHAPTER II 

The Hearty Greeting of a Long-Lost Volume 

The meeting of an old friend has ever been to the 
chronicler an unmixed pleasure, and for the reason 
that there are so few remaining over whom to make 
merry. With the young it is different. Friends 
they have among their former schoolmates, ready 
at all times to sit by the hour talking over their 
boyhood days. 

However, the friend the chronicler has in mind is 
nothing more nor less than a rib-bound volume bear- 
ing the age of one hundred and seventy-five years! 
For a third of a century it had been resting in the 
quietude of the solitude, unwept, unhonored and 
unsung with none to do it reverence. 

Opening its time-worn lids, we find written with 
quill in large Enghsh script: 

** iCanrajst^r Qlnrpcrattntt SSnck*' 

174Z IBIS 

It was with indescribable pleasure that the chron- 
icler continued to rummage through its time-worn 
pages, and as each was turned over, what a mint of 
oldtime recordings had been resting concealed from 
hirnian vision. For a period of seventy-six years it 
had served as the minute-book for a long fine of 
burgomasters' clerks who had faithfully inscribed 

22 



GREETING OF A LONG-LOST VOLUME 23 

therein every little eventful incident occurring in 
the town of "Old Lancaster" during these seven or 
more decades. And here the question arose, would 
the contents of the "Corporation Book" prove of 
any value to the twentieth century reader during 
these war times if set forth in the shape of a narra- 
tive? 

Impressed with the importance of the undertaking, 
the chronicler set himself to the task of handing 
down to posterity such of the voliune's minutes as 
might prove acceptable to the general reader. 

Turning to the first page our eyes take in the 
following: "At a meeting of the Burgesses and 
their assistants in the Borough of Lancaster, in the 
county of Lancaster, in the Province of Pennsyl- 
vania, the thirteenth day of August in the year of 
our Lord, 1742, by virtue of a charter of Incorpora- 
tion granted by the Honored Proprietor, James 
Hamilton, dated the first day of May, A. Domini, 
1742." 

Following the minutes, we find sitting in a room 
with its low ceiling and scantily supphed furniture, 
the first assembly of duly constituted bmgomasters 
charged with duties such as they had never before 
been called upon to exercise in their corporate 
capacity. At the head of the table sat Thomas 
Cookson, Chief Burgess, at the other end, Sebastian 
Graeff, Burgess, while on opposite sides were their 
six assistants, Michael Byerle, Mathias Young, 
John Folke, Peter Worrall, John Dehuff, Abraham 
Johnston. 

These burgesses and their co-advisors had met to 



24 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

formulate rules and regulations for the government 
of the borough under the charter constituting what 
for a dozen years previous had been but a village 
subject to no well-established ordinances, rules or 
regulations. 

Before them no doubt rested the charter of the 
Borough of Lancaster, and from which only a few 
extracts can be made owing to its length and the 
space required. It began: "George the Second, by 
the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ire- 
land, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to 
whom these Presents shall come Greeting: Whereas 
our loving Subject, James Hamilton of the City of 
Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, Esq., 
owner of a Tract of land whereon the Town of 
Lancaster, in the same Province, is erected, Hath, 
on behalf of the Inhabitants of said Town, repre- 
sented unto oiu" trusty and well beloved Thomas 
Penn, Esquire, one of the Proprietors of the said 
Province, and George Thomas, Esq., with our 
Royal Approbation — do grant and ordain that the 
streets of said borough shall ever continue as they 
are now laid out and regulated. And we do now 
nominate and appoint Thomas Cookson and Se- 
bastian Grooffe to be present Burgesses; and that 
said Thomas Cookson shall be called Chief Burgess 
within said borough, and Michael Byerle, Mathias 
Young, John Dehuff, John Folkes, Abraham John- 
ston, and Peter Worrall, assistants for advising, 
aiding and assisting the said Burgesses in the exe- 
cution of the powers and authorities herein given 
them." 




JAMES HAMILTON, FOUNDER OF LANCASTER, PENNA. 



GREETING OF A LONG-LOST VOLUME 25 

Being a law unto themselves with the charter as 
their guide, these goodly burgomasters began to 
legislate in accordance with what the charter pre- 
scribed, religiously, morally and socially. 

The burgesses' jfirst action ran as follows: "On 
receiving the charter from James Hamilton, and in 
regard for the great service done this town of Lan- 
caster in procuring the same to be incorporated, it 
is unanimously agreed by the Burgesses and their 
assistants that they wait upon him and return him 
the thanks of the Corporation for his services. And 
also request him [in the absence of the Burgesses] 
to return their thanks to his Honor, the Governor, 
for the same. 

"It is taken into consideration that, by act of 
Assembly of this Province, made the fourth year in 
the reign of the late Queen Ann, for the observance 
of the Lord's Day, it is enacted, that no tradesmen, 
artificers, workmen, laborers or other persons what- 
soever shall do or exercise any worldly business, or 
work of their ordinary calhng on the Sabbath day, 
therein called the 'First' day upon pain that every 
such offender forfeit twenty shilhngs to the use of 
the poor — Provided always, that nothing in said act 
extend to prohibit butchers from kilhng and selhng 
their meat on that day in the months of June, July 
and August before the hour of nine in the morning, 
and after five in the afternoon — And that all con- 
stables are required to search every tavern, and if 
any persons are found drinking or 'tippling' on the 
Sabbath, they are to be fined one shilling sixpence; 
and the keeper of such house or tavern, ten shilling 

4 



26 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

for the same use with the proviso that travelers, 
inmates and lodgers may be suppHed with their 
victuals, drinks for themselves only." 

As the minutes continue: "But notwithstanding 
such act, it is only too customary for shopkeepers, 
tavernkeepers and others within the Borough to 
allow their ordinary callings on the Sabbath day — 
the shopkeepers by selling their goods to country 
people, and tavernkeepers by entertaining company 
— For the putting a stop to such practices for the 
future, it is ordered that the said act of Assembly 
be put into execution — And that the chief constable 
do publish this ordinance, and take due care that 
all offenders be brought to justice." 

Signed, "George Sanderson, clerk of the Bur- 
gesses." 

The narrator has no means of knowing what rela- 
tion if any, this George Sanderson was to the tenth 
mayor of the city. He might have been his great- 
grandfather. As to the status of the constables, 
unless they differed greatly from many of their 
successors, it need not be assumed that these early 
guardians of the peace were not disposed to take a 
sly nip of the Uquid that came from the Gibson 
still even on the Sabbath. 

Only in imagination can the present-day reader 
pictiu*e to himseff these rehgiously inchned burgo- 
masters, as for the first time they sat in the enforce- 
ment of the provisions of the new charter in starting 
the townstead on its future career. 

Of one thing there isn't any room for doubt even 
by the twentieth century law-violator, namely, that 



GREETING OF A LONG-LOST VOLUME 27 

the burgomasters were men of the very highest 
standing, otherwise they would not have been 
selected by proprietor, James Hamilton, as burgesses 
and assistants. While the majority were Germans, 
they were not all of one nationahty as the minutes 
will make clear as the narrative continues on down 
through seventy-six years to the year 1818. But 
come from whence they might, they were men of 
sterHng human timber — pioneers who had endured 
hardships years before the village had been made a 
borough. 

Without anticipating coming events, the author 
has gleaned sufficient to show that many of the 
long line of burgesses and assistants had lived down 
through the stirring times of the Revolution, but at 
no time during their seventy-six years of rule was 
their loyalty ever questioned. Firm in their devo- 
tion to the mother country and the government of 
the Penns, so steadfast were they to the flag, with 
stars and stripes after the colonies had secured their 
independence. Opinions differed as they do to-day 
over matters of church and private affairs, but in 
their official duties they were actuated by a desire 
to leave their impress deep and lasting on the pages 
of history. And unless greatly mistaken, a goodly 
number of those Hving in city and county can trace 
their ancestry back to the time of the burgesses. 

And here the question arises. How came the first 
burgesses and their assistants to hold office, inas- 
much as the minutes make no mention of an election 
being held prior to their entering upon their duties? 
However, following the year 1742, an election was 



28 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

held yearly down to the year 1818. As only a 
certain class, freemen, could vote, see what trouble 
it saved the rank and file, and all without any taxa- 
tion to worry over. It was not until the year 1812 
that the first property tax was laid and collected. 
Think then, ye twentieth-centiuy overburdened tax- 
payers, citizens of "New Lancaster," with no 
assessor, no tax-collector! Imagine, if you can, a 
town without taxes for schools, water and streets to 
worry over! Why, we verily beheve that three 
fourths of the voting population of our city of the 
present day would be willing to forego the right of 
franchise, could they feel assured that, for the next 
half a century, there were not to be any taxes to 
worry over! 

But the query. How was it possible for the bur- 
gesses to run the town for half a century without 
the sinews of war, so to speak? 

They had but three resources, markets, fines and 
fairs. The latter must have been money makers, 
otherwise they wouldn't have been held twice each 
year, during June and September, with only two 
exceptions, during the trying days of the Revolution, 
after which they were again resorted to, as shall be 
shown later. 

Fairs, unlike those of to-day, were managed by the 
corporation instead of by private capital. It would 
well repay any reader for the time in going through 
the "Corporation Book" to find how many small 
accounts had to be kept by the clerk of the burgesses, 
and to find that on fair-settlement day the profit 
realized scarcely exceeded a few pounds. 



GREETING OF A LONG-LOST VOLUME 29 

One thing the twentieth century reader may have 
cause to regret, in that the burgesses' clerk did not 
mention the kind of visitors attending these fairs. 
Surely they did not reach the townstead on a trolley 
car or in an auto. The young men must have come 
on horseback with their girls behind them. Only 
in imagination can a glimpse he had of what was 
going on during fair week! No backwoods com- 
munity of the present day can in any way compare 
with the townstead "Old Lancaster" during these 
semi-annual weeks of jollification! But for one 
thing the country people had cause to be doubly 
thankful, there were not any turnpikes with "catch- 
penny" gates, requiring the chauffeur to stop a 
minute and a half and then speed up the motor in 
trying to make up for lost time. The few trails 
were free to all, young and old, rich and poor, with 
more of the latter than of the former. 

However, as has aheady been said, as it was not 
possible for even the burgesses to continue to build 
up the town on the receipts of markets, fairs and 
fines, the time came when taxation became an abso- 
lute necessity, and to this year 1917 it has become 
a requirement, but seldom has it been downward — 
always upward. At times the rate has been lowered 
with the assessment increased, thereby equahzing 
conditions. But why bring unpleasant reminders to 
an aheady overtaxed people the world over! 

In closing this chapter, let the narrator quote 
from the historian Gordon as follows: "Along at 
the time the town was founded it had but a few one 
story houses, rented to the poorer classes. As the 



30 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

ground upon which they stood was being let on the 
ground-rent plan, and on terms so easy as to invite 
many poor settlers, it soon became evident that the 
townstead's two square miles was too large for the 
surrounding country." And as the reader shall 
learn, too large it was for a good many years there- 
after. Surrounded the dwellers were with plenty of 
the "open," but much of this was still in the hands 
of the founder's agent to be sold either for ready 
cash or on the ground-land plan. But what signi- 
fied easy terms with the majority without money? 
Unlike in this twentieth century, pounds, shillings 
and pence did not come rolling in almost as free as 
the air we breathe. The struggle for existence was 
the lot of the first settlers, many of whom had come 
from Europe with Httle more than enough to pay 
their way to this later town of plenty. 

As the minutes of the burgesses show, there were 
promoters, who bought up valuable tracts, awaiting 
a rise. But one of the difficulties was, when taxa- 
tion became a necessary evil, how to reach these 
land grabbers! Many would neither build nor sell. 
And as shall be shown, when streets came to be 
laid out, the price demanded was extortionate! 
But the time came, during Revolutionary times, 
when not a few died with plenty of land but with 
fittle ready cash. And herein lies one of the secrets 
of Lancaster's slow development. 

By some the town's slow progress is attributed to 
the German settlers, known ever since for their 
conservatism. However, with these opinions and 
others the narrator is not disposed to differ; his 



GREETING OF A LONG-LOST VOLUME 31 

mission is to set forth from the "Corporation Book" 
and later from the councihnanic records a true narra- 
tive of how the town grew from an insignificant ham- 
let in 1730 to a city of fifty odd thousand in this 
year of our Lord 1917. 

To trace the ownership of even the sites upon 
which buildings stand around Penn Square would 
require more space than the narrator has to give, 
when it is recalled that the deed for the original grant 
where stands the Conestoga National Bank required 
an endless search and research to determine its 
present status. Nor is it necessary for the chronicler 
to go searching round among musty records to 
ascertain the location of the first house built in the 
hamlet and by whom. By one writer it has been 
said that here and there one or more were built as 
early as 1717. As neither one nor the other was 
erected by the chronicler's great-great-grandfather, 
why bother himself over trifles? 

Too many other matters of greater importance 
are to occupy the chronicler's attention. What the 
readers want to know is more of the inner fife of 
their ancestors, their habits, customs and traditions, 
in order to profit by their virtues and avoid their 
errors. And oh, how dehghtful, were it possible to 
take one and all back to the time of the burgesses to 
visit them in their homes of one hundred and seventy- 
eight years ago; to enter therein and maybe to sit 
before the open fire hearth on a cold winter evening 
listening to stories of how their ancestors hved 
before them. 

We know how enjoyable it would be to be shown 



32 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

around the first log court house, to sit under the 
shade of the old hickory tree by the famous spring, 
and, after a bath in "Roaring Brook," to partake 
of a sumptuous repast at the "Gibson Inn" with a 
little something invigorating from the Gibson still 
with no government tax of so much per gallon to 
be collected for revenue purposes. 

Think ye, ladies of "New Lancaster," of the 
pleasure of stepping into this or that store to be 
fitted out in a wardrobe such as the burgesses' 
daughters used to wear as they promenaded the 
streets where are now stores, and of the kind un- 
known during the good old days. 

Were this long time-distance covered in miles 
instead of in years, the jom-ney might be made in 
an automobile, but this being impossible — not 
counting the consumption of gasoHne — the reader 
must remain content with a description of the 
townstead as taken largely from the "Corporation 
Book." And even what is to follow may prove of 
little avail unless the historic student is gifted with a 
reministic imagination to see things as the chronicler 
discloses them running down almost to the present 
day. 

Then the cost of the journey must be considered 
as an item during these war times, with no steamer 
trunk to be filled with enough winter and summer 
wearing apparel to worry over! So follow the 
writer, who will take you back to "Old Lancaster," 
with a guarantee of a safe return, and all without 
any worry over a wardrobe. Why, more excursion- 
ists worry over making preparations for a journey 



GREETING OF A LONG-LOST VOLUME 33 

to the seashore than is good for their health. They 
grow nervous for weeks before starting, and, after 
reaching their destination, they long to be getting 
back home where they are no longer at the mercy 
of the infernal mosquito on the one hand and the 
high price of hotel accommodations on the other. 
So, my contented home body, if you will but think 
yourself back in "Old Lancaster" of nearly two 
centuries ago, you'll surely be there; for, after all, 
life is what we make it — largely a mental process. 
A good many people without a dollar think them- 
selves rich, while others with their thousands are 
forever complaining of being poor. Few realize 
that the greatest blessing is health. But this is 
only too frequently sacrificed for wealth. And here, 
before closing this chapter, is an axiom for boys: 
To lose wealth is one thing, to lose health is another, 
but to lose character is to lose everything! Write 
it out, my lads, and paste it in a conspicuous place 
to be glanced over when you feel yourself going 
wrong! Character! it's a jewel! It is dehghtful to 
hear it said of a man after passing away, "He was 
honest, and faithful to every trust in him reposed!" 
And now to the second meeting of the burgesses. 



CHAPTER III 
Continuation of Complaints by the Inhabitants 

Certain descendants of the burgomasters residing 
in "New Lancaster" at the present time are no 
doubt waiting with patience to learn what took 
place at their second meeting at the home of one 
Jacob Frey. To locate this then well-known place 
the chronicler has made dihgent search in the 
' ' Corporation Book, ' ' but without success. It might 
have been a tavern, but, as the burgesses were 
temperate in their habits, it was more than hkely a 
private house located on the south side of West 
King Street above Water, where, the narrator has 
been informed, it stood until 1825, when it was 
destroyed by fire. In this building the burgesses 
held their meetings regularly with but few exceptions 
for seventy-six years. And, as the minutes show, it 
was always at the house of Jacob Frey, indicating 
that the first Jacob Frey must have been followed 
by others in regular succession. 

As just one month had elapsed from the time of 
the bm-gesses' first meeting to that of their second, 
sufficient time had no doubt been given them to 
formulate such other rules and regulations as the 
newly organized borough required in accordance 
with the act of Assembly to which they religiously 
adhered. 

34 



COMPLAINTS BY THE INHABITANTS 35 

We have no means of knowing if a sentry had been 
placed at the door, admitting only those who had 
important business with the authorities by telhng 
them how the town ought to be governed. This 
may seem peculiar in view of the fact that, in all 
recently organized Lancaster county boroughs, the 
newly elected councilmen are usually met by a 
committee representing every condition of society. 

Having lived in a borough for a short time after 
it was emancipated from the burden of township 
rule, the chronicler had every opportunity to observe 
how dehghtedly contented the inhabitants were until 
the assessor was followed by the tax collector, when, 
lo! prayers went out regretfully from property 
holders that they had ever separated themselves 
from their previous, easy-going life of township 
rule. But, in the end, came the consoling thought 
that, by setting up housekeeping for themselves, 
they had managed to keep their own town's name 
on the map. 

However, no sooner had the burgomasters shielded 
themselves behind closed and bolted doors than 
they began in earnest to enforce their well-matured 
mandates as follows : 

"Resolved, as chapmen (peddlers), licensed to 
travel the county, have been violating the law by 
setting up stalls within the Corporation at times of 
fairs, election and court-days, in exposing their 
goods for sale, be it enacted that no persons except 
freemen, within the corporate hmits of the borough 
of Lancaster, be permitted to display or offer their 
goods within this town, under penalty of five pounds 



36 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

to be levied by distress, and sale of the vender's 
goods for the use of the Corporation. And that the 
high constable see that this measure is carried into 
effect." 

That this proclamation was not printed in one 
of the daily newspapers, at so much per running 
Hue, may have been for the reason that there 
were no papers until about the year 1756. Since 
that time it is well to note the fact that as many 
as three hundred different kinds of this, that and the 
other have been issued in city and county. This 
one fact goes far to establish the reputation of our 
people as a highly cultured community, excelled by 
none the country over. 

The present-day reader, at all times impatient 
over the non arrival of his own daily on schedule 
time, can hardly realize how any community could 
have existed for so many years without a morning 
or evening newspaper. We sometimes wonder how 
the women managed to endure without a paper filled 
with advertisements! Again, think of no daihes 
from Philadelphia and New York to be read at one's 
breakfast, or the evening sheet at one's supper! 

What these goodly people had to take the place 
of the newspaper we can better imagine than de- 
scribe. No doubt every now and then would come a 
copy of Ben Franklin's "Poor Richard," out of 
which was culled, among others, "Early to bed and 
early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." 
If this moral were written today, it would read, 
"Late to bed and late to rise makes a man neither 
healthy, wealthy nor wise." 



COMPLAINTS BY THE INHABITANTS 37 

However, it is altogether a matter of conditions. 
A people who could live for a century depending on 
wells, pumps and springs, without a railroad, trolley, 
automobiles, motor-cycles, bicycles, gas or even 
matches, surely were not worrying over the need 
of a newspaper! No doubt, for what they had they 
were thankful, neither too much nor too little. 

But how different in this twentieth century! 
Blessings are multiphed four-fold! Why, if the 
telephone gets out of order for a minute and a half, 
what growhng and grumbling! The only thing 
many church-goers will overlook is a rainy Sabbath. 

And now to a few difficulties with which the 
burgesses had to contend, one of the most grievous 
of which was the danger of chimneys catching fire. 
Numerous complaints having been made by house- 
wives, it was, "Resolved that any person within the 
limits of the town of two miles square who shall 
suffer his or her chimney to catch fire so as to flare 
out at the top, shall forfeit ten shiUing for the use 
of the Corporation." 

This was a wise and necessary provision, enacted 
not so much for the revenue in the shape of fines, as 
protection to other properties. Only those old in 
years can recall how readily chimneys caught fire, 
owing to the soot gathering from the burning of 
wood, before coal came into general use among 
housekeepers. To witness a flare-up during the 
night with sparks flying in aU directions was a sight 
to bring terror to those living within easy distance 
of a burning chimney. 

As no mention of chimney sweeps was made by 



38 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

the burgesses, it may have been owing to the fact 
that these "sweepers of chimneys" had not as yet 
found their way to the borough, where, during later 
years, they could be seen at the top of a chimney, 
singing out their weird refrain. Crawhng upward 
from the fireplace, they were known at times to 
become encased within, requiring to be drawn out 
by a rope and with the greatest difficulty. Covered 
with soot, on their appearance they might have been 
taken for a part of the colored population. 

But to continue the minutes: "And as to the 
burning of charcoal by blacksmiths, as this has 
become a nuisance and very offensive, it is ordered 
that no charcoal be permitted to be burned within a 
half mile of the town as already laid out under pen- 
alty of thirty shilling for each and every offence." 

That no mention of either bituminous or anthra- 
cite coal was made, may have been because these 
articles of combustion at the time were unheard of 
among the town inhabitants. As for charcoal, it 
had, no doubt, become a very profitable industry 
among the chestnut timber farmers. 

The second complaint was against butchers who 
had been caught in the act of "blowing-up" their 
meat by the use of pipes. As the minutes fail to 
make mention of what the "blowing-up" of meat 
actually meant, the process has been explained by 
one whose great-grandfather had actually been 
guilty of this crime, practiced on poor, suffering 
humanity by the olden-time butchers. 

When a slab-sided sheep, calf or other quadruped 
was slaughtered without the proper outward quahty 



COMPLAINTS BY THE INHABITANTS 39 

for market, a tube was inserted lengthwise within 
one side and air pumped into the parts with a 
bellows ! After the whole had become well inflated, a 
coating of hot tallow was carefully poured over the 
end of the opening, making it difficult for the buyer 
to discover the trick until the quantity was hung 
up in the fireplace, no doubt to be cured, as was the 
custom. As the minutes show, this butcher was 
fined five pounds with a warning that, for a repe- 
tition of this trickery, his license would be forfeited. 

The next petition signed by some of the women 
was of so much importance as to cause the clerk to 
visit "the owners of all 'pubhc bakers,' and weigh 
whatever bread he finds, which, if deficient according 
to the standard as provided by act of Assembly, it 
shall be taken to any one of the burgesses who is 
empowered to dispose of it for the use of the poor." 

What may seem strange to the average twentieth- 
century housewife is that no complaint was made 
about the "public bread bakers" in "blowing-up" 
their bread as had the butchers their meat through 
pipes. It may have been that the bread bakers 
had not as yet learned the art of creating "vacuums" 
in their bread loaves so common at the present day 
in all cities except "New Lancaster." As it hap- 
pened, bread was sold by weight in accordance with 
an act of Assembly. Of course, the minutes fail to 
show how the bread bakers' scales were adjusted 
like those of today. 

Judging from what is to appear, most of the 
trickery practiced during recent years must have 
been handed down from remote times. Again, 



40 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"Whereas, frequent complaint has been made of 
farmers disposing of their cord wood and not giving 
sufficient measure, it is ordered that any cord wood 
so deficient in measure shall be sold for the benefit 
of the Corporation." Whether this embargo made 
farmers more careful in knowing just how many 
sticks a cord was to contain, the clerk had not 
figured out. However, it is a sorrowful story we 
have related with others to follow. And now, ye 
automobile speeders, give ear: "It is ordered that 
if any persons whatsoever shall presmne to gallop 
any horse or horses through the streets or any part 
of them, they shall be compelled to pay a fine of 
twenty shilhng for each and every offence for the 
use of the Corporation." It has been said that the 
once-upon-a-time "Devil Dave Miller" rode his 
horse to the second floor of the North American 
Hotel, where today stands the Hotel Brunswick. 
He must have learned the trick from some of his 
ancestors. 

"It is also enacted that no firing of guns or other 
fire-arms loaded with bullet or shot be permitted 
within the inhabited parts of the town. This shall 
not be allowed until permission is first given. And 
whereas, the evil consequences which formerly have 
arisen by people selling cider and spiritous liquors 
on the streets to persons in getting 'drunk,' be it 
ordered that whosoever shall expose cider, beer or 
intoxicants, at any time hereafter, shall pay a fine 
of twenty shillings for each and every offence. And 
whereas, the assembfing of persons around the 
court house in playing ball, has resulted in a breech 



COMPLAINTS BY THE INHABITANTS 41 

of the peace, to the injury of country people on 
horseback — for a violation of this order, five shilKngs 
shall be paid and collected by the clerk of the 
market." 

It must appear evident to the clerk of the present 
market committee that this overworked servant of 
the town must have had his hands full in looking 
after butchers, public bread bakers, chapmen and, 
maybe, candlestick makers. And for the clerk of 
the burgesses, the minutes show the number of 
small accounts he was compelled to keep, and the 
time required. 

Reformers in the strictest sense of the word these 
goodly burgesses may have been, having drawn 
their inspiration from the Pilgrim Fathers. But 
it should not be overlooked by all twentieth century 
critics that, apart from correcting certain evils which 
had been only too common for a dozen years previ- 
ous, it was money they needed to keep the wheels 
of the borough in motion. And a portion of this 
they got from barbers for shaving on the Sabbath 
day. 

At the time of the burgesses' appointment, no- 
where do the minutes show that they had a single 
dollar in the treasiu^y; and, as this was needed, the 
only source of income came from markets, fairs and 
fines! They were surrounded by plenty of land, 
but this belonged to the proprietor, James Hamilton. 
Even what they bought had to be paid for in pounds, 
shilhngs and pence or on the ground-rent plan. 
Of the founder's liberaHty more may be said as the 
narrative continues. 



42 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

However, by the year 1757, through the closest 
economy, they had accumulated enough to erect a 
market house on the site where stands the building 
over which Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M., was built in 
1798. On the completion of the first market house, 
they must have felt themselves deserving of praise, 
according to the following: "Whereas, the inhabi- 
tants of the Borough have, at a very great expense, 
built a convenient market house on the space speci- 
fied by the founder for said purpose — Therefore, be 
it resolved, that, from and immediately after the 
pubhcation hereof, any butcher found selling or 
exposing for sale fish, flesh, fowl, or other market 
products at any other place than within the market 
house, other than on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 
shall forfeit the sum of fifteen shillings for each and 
every ofi'ence." 

We have no means of knowing how much growling 
there was over this edict, by farmers and others, 
but, judging them as a class, they no doubt were 
compelled to obey the bm-gesses' mandates or sub- 
mit to a fine which, with money scarce, ended in 
their obeying the law. 

This convenient (P) market house, as the cost goes 
to show, was but a temporary structure, built upon 
poles with a straw covering, common to many of 
the houses at the time. And here follows what 
may prove of interest to members of the various 
fire companies before the paid service came to take 
their place. It was in 1763 that the burgesses 
ordered "That forthwith a hose house be built on 
the northwest corner of the market house, to take 



COMPLAINTS BY THE INHABITANTS 43 

up in length three pillars, and not more than four 
feet of the inside of the market house, which space 
is to contain three engines." This was the first 
hose house built in the borough of Lancaster. The 
same year, a company was formed by name "The 
Sun. ' ' To settle a long-disputed question as between 
the "Union" and the "Sun" as to which had pri- 
ority, the narrator called on Mr. Henry Demuth, 
and from the minutes of the "Sun's" proceedings it 
was ascertained that it was in this same year, 1763, 
that the "Sun" hose company came into being. 
On the other hand, the "Union" members claim to 
have organized their company in 1760. 

We have no means of learning from the minutes 
what kind of fire-engines were in use; no doubt they 
were like those of the writer's boyhood, requiring 
what was called "The Bucket Brigade" to draw 
water from wells and then to be poured into the 
box-reservoir to be forced out of the nozzle of the 
hose by a hand arrangement. Compare then this 
old-time method of fighting fires with engines of the 
present day run by gasohne and ladder-trucks 
reaching almost to the tops of the highest buildings. 

In this same year, 1763, on the twenty-seventh of 
December, while the burgomasters were engaged in 
the solemnities of the sanctuary, came the startling 
news that a gruesome murder had been committed 
in the workhouse of the Lancaster jail by a number 
of Paxton men with a grievance against the Indians 
who had previously murdered several famihes of the 
white settlers along the lower Conestoga. 

The following account is taken from a letter by 
WiUiam Henry, Esq., to a friend in Philadelphia: 



44 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

*'The first notice I had of the affair was when I 
saw a number of people running down the street 
toward the jail. About six or eight yards from 
there, we met from twenty-five to thirty men, well 
mounted on horses with rifles, tomahawks, and 
scalping-knives, equipped for murder. Running 
into the prison-yard, oh, what a horrid sight pre- 
sented itself to my view! Near the back door of 
the prison lay an old Indian and his squaw. His 
name was Will Soc, and across their remains lay 
two children of about the age of three years whose 
heads were split open and their scalps taken off." 

As the remaining portion of this letter is too grue- 
some to repeat, it shall be omitted. This in addi- 
tion history records: "After the Indians had been 
killed, all parties busied themselves to ascertain who 
was to blame. The burgesses were charged with 
remissness of duty, and the people with being in 
collusion and connivance with the Paxton men. But 
as history further shows, no convictions were the 
result." 

The chronicler having gone carefully through the 
minutes of the burgesses, was surprised to find no 
mention of the occurrence, no douit for the reason 
that they didn't want to give too wide pubHcity to 
what might reflect upon the town's future. And 
as for the town's newspaper, there were no reporters 
meddling with everybody's private and public 
affairs; they had not as yet been discovered, be- 
longing as they did to a much later epoch. For this 
much, at least, the burgesses had cause to be thank- 
ful. 



COMPLAINTS BY THE INHABITANTS 45 

But if the burgesses had managed to ehminate 
from their proceedings all mention of this massacre, 
the "press" of Philadelphia teemed with pamphlets, 
letters, appeals, pasquinades, and caricatures, many 
of which are still preserved in the Philadelphia 
Library. This one act of violence gave the town- 
stead more notoriety throughout the Province of 
Pennsylvania than anything that had occurred since 
its founding. Reasons for the actions of the Paxton 
"Boys," as they were called, if at all justifiable, were 
swept aside. And yet, what occurred at a much 
later epoch, called the "Christiana Riot," ended in 
pretty much the same way, with no convictions to 
follow. Nor have atrocities ceased even down to 
the present day. If at all justifiable, the massacre 
of 1763 would seem to have been excusable, owing 
to conditions at the time of its occurrence between 
the Indians and white settlers, the former wishing 
to retain their lands, the latter to possess them. 

The chronicler can readily imagine what is upper- 
most in the reader's mind — why resurrect from the 
pages of the "Corporation Book" what should have 
been allowed to rest in oblivion? 



CHAPTER IV 

An Awakening of the Borough of "Old 
Lancaster" to Higher Ideals 

From now on, extending through succeeding 
years, the reader shall learn of the town's awakening 
to liigher ideals. The first departure from old- 
time methods came on the seventeenth of September, 
1770, with William Atlee following James Rallfe 
as Chief Burgess. Previous to the election of 
Burgess Atlee, all oaths were administered in a 
shorter way. Quoting from the minutes we find 
the following: "On the 17th day of September, 1770, 
WiUiam Atlee as Chief Burgess of the Borough of 
Lancaster did take and subscribe to the oath of 
allegiance, suppremacy and abjuration, and did also 
take his oath of office before Edward Shippen, 
Esquire, of the same Borough, appointed by the 
Hon. John Penn, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of 
Pennsylvania by his Didimus Potestatem, to ad- 
minister the oaths aforesaid— On the same day, 
17 of September, 1770, Wilham Atlee in pursuance 
of the powers to him given in and by the charter of 
the said Borough, did administer the oaths of 
allegiance, supremacy and abjuration to Christian 
Voght, Burgess, John Hobson, WiUiam Henry, 
George Mayer, Ludwick Lawman, Christian Boo^h, 
assistants." 

46 



AWAKENING TO HIGHER IDEALS 47 

This oath taken by Chief Burgess Atlee was in 
conformity with the new charter passed shortly 
before by the Provincial Assembly. To divert the 
reader's attention momentarily from what occurred 
during the four years of Burgess Atlee's stewardship, 
mention wUl be made of certain business pursuits 
conducted within a square or two from the court 
house. This mart had already become a beehive 
of trade and commerce, as business commercially 
speaking went in those early days. 

Few possibly Kving at the present day have ever 
heard of Joseph Simon, a worthy, honest Jew. He 
was agent for the Philadelphia "Gratz Brothers" 
in many lines of business. As early as 1747 Joseph 
Simon and some of his friends pm'chased and laid 
out what is known as the Jewish graveyard, lying 
in Manheim Township, south of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad "Cut-off." This plot has ever since been 
cared for by the Gratz descendants. 

In 1773 Joseph Simon was managing two stores in 
"Old Lancaster" in partnership with Mr. A. L. 
Levy, as leading merchants and fur traders in the 
Ohio valley. Their advertisement, being rather 
unique, ran as follows: 

"Simon and Levy, of Lancaster, take this oppor- 
tunity of acquainting their friends and the public 
in general that they have for sale in their stores near 
the court house, opposite Mr. Thomas Poultney's, 
a large and general assortment of East India and 
European goods, suitable to all seasons; these they 
are determined to sell upon the lowest terms. They 
have just imported a general assortment of saddlery- 



48 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

ware which they can and will sell lower than any 
other merchant in Lancaster, and take saddles in 
payment for saddlery. 

"Those who will be pleased to favor them with 
their custom, may depend upon being well treated. 
They give the highest prices for furs, skins, beeswax 
and tallow. In the same places I have just imported 
a general assortment of Iron-Mongry, which they 
will sell at wholesale and retail on the lowest terms, 
and will be obhge to their friends, and the pubHc 
in general for their custom." 

While the following were not mentioned in the 
foregoing advertisement, it can be assumed that 
they did have on sale at the time a full assortment 
of articles worn by the well-to-do at that early 
period, namely, *' Garnet colored, paste sleeve and 
waist coat buttons; paste, fancy cluster earrings and 
necklaces, sorted, colored; French and colored ditto; 
stone shoe, knee stock and girdle buckles; shagreen 
and silver instrument, and tweezer cases; filagree 
pick tooth cases; silver-joint garnet eyes; neat 
bracelets and lockets, set with garnets, garnet-heart 
shirt buckles, set in gold; stone stay hooks, set in 
silver; true lovers' knots; kneckless and silver rings; 
patch boxes with looking glasses; black and colored 
silk cloaks; cardinals and lockets; black and satin 
flounced hats; plain, flowered and colored hander- 
chiefs; lace caps; gause ruffles; an assortment of 
new fashion ribbon; tandem and Irish lace; silver 
stomachers and sleeve knots; India damask; colored 
calimancoes; course hair shag and honeycomb shag; 
superfine duroys; dyed jeans and piUows; corded 



AWAKENING TO HIGHER IDEALS 49 

dimity; cotton gowns; fine Dresden tape; scarlet 
and black everlasting; tailors' sheers; sheep shears 
and sundry other goods too tedious to mention." 

The foregoing has been copied from the "Gratz 
papers" to show that at the time, in 1770, when 
William Atlee was elected chief burgess, the borough 
of "Old Lancaster" had already assumed some 
importance as a center of commercial activity, not 
only at home but extending among the fur traders 
of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. 

In passing along any one of the thoroughfares of 
"New Lancaster," there are not to be seen ladies 
decorated with garnets and other costly adornments 
such as were worn by the better classes dm-ing and 
preceding the Revolution. Expensive gowns im- 
ported from Paris took the place of the cheaper 
material on sale in most of the stores here and else- 
where of this twentieth century. 

It will be noticed that in the advertisement no 
mention was made of hoops, no doubt for the reason 
that they had not as yet come into style; and so 
large were they during our boyhood as to go thrice 
round a sugar hogshead with a few remaining. 
Shawls for men took the place of overcoats. But 
what has become of the "Walking Gentleman" with 
high black silk hat, satin vest, and trousers fastened 
with a strap under his calf skin boots to keep them 
from bagging at the knees .^^ 

However, dress, travel, education, amusements — 
all have changed so completely as to cause the octo- 
genarian narrator to wonder from what source the 
girls are to draw their styles of dress a six months 



50 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

hence? In seeing a bunch passing along this or that 
street, arm in arm, with no two hats ahke, no two 
gowns of the same color, cut or finish, we step out 
of their way, wondering what the world is coming to! 
But it is easily to be seen that the old-time dress- 
maker is no longer in evidence. Stopping in front 
of a show-window, all that a twentieth century girl 
of the "period" has to do is to step within and 
disrobe, when a half hom* later out she emerges a 
new made being. And as she goes her way trippingly 
along in her white shoes and silk hose a yard in 
length, who will say that the girls of "New Lan- 
caster" haven't outdone the girls of Revolutionary 
times, and at one third the cost? 

There is yet one class of farmers' daughters and 
sons who have not grown poor from over dress. 
We feel like congratulating the rosy-faced country 
girls, and for the reason that they don't have to 
sit up for a six months worrying over what the 
Parisian styles are to be a haK year later. 

Begging our dear girls' pardon for having tres- 
passed upon their exclusive domain, it may be neces- 
sary in order to determine what had remained in 
doubt at the time of Burgess Atlee's first year in 
office, to bring to the attention of the historical 
student the question of ownership of the ground 
given by the founder for market purposes. 

"One of Mr. Atlee's first acts was to write James 
Wright, at Columbia, requesting him to make search 
among his deceased father's, John Wright's, papers, 
also among those of the late Samuel Blunson's, for 
the deed given the trustees for the market ground 



AWAKENING TO HIGHER IDEALS 51 

belonging to the Corporation." The following is 
the answer to Burgess Atlee's letter: 

"That Mr. Wright has informed Mr. Atlee of his 
having found the deed, which matter having been 
considered by the Burgesses, it is agreed that said 
deed be recorded after Mr. Atlee and the High 
constable shall have called on him for the same." 

Let it be said that upon this deed much litigation 
is to follow. It was ordered by the biu-gesses to be 
recorded in the Recorder's office here in Lancaster. 
But the narrator has been unable to find it any- 
where on record. 

This plot of ground whereon stands our city hall, 
and that portion over which Blue Lodge was erected 
as a superstructure in 1798, consisted of one hundred 
and twenty feet square. It extended northward 
and where now stands the present brick market 
house, formerly occupied by rows of frame shops 
and offices. If the reader has the patience to await 
the time, the minutes of burgesses and councils 
may set at rest the disturbing question as to the 
ownership of city hall, called at times "The State 
House." 

Ever active in well-doing for the uphft of the 
borough, at a meeting in 1772, Bm-gess Atlee sub- 
mitted to his colleagues the draught of a bill prepared 
by Mr. Ross and himself, to be laid before the 
Assembly of the Province to be enacted into a law. 
As the minutes of the Corporation Book show, it 
was the first call upon the law-making power of the 
Province for the efimination of certain evils, called 
"nuisances," with which the town had been afflicted. 
And here follows the action of the Bmgesses. 



52 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"As Mr. Ross is at present in Philadelphia, attend- 
ing the Assembly, he is requested to use his influence 
in giving Magistrates the same power as have 
justices of the peace in the county in determining 
controversies and other matters which affect the 
inhabitants of the Borough of Lancaster. Also, to 
enable the Burgesses to make rules and ordinances 
for the town's government in some constitutional 
way less troublesome and more convenient than 
formerly." 

Space alone forbids the narrator from giving a 
sketch of the life of plain George Ross, Esquire, 
and consequently the Corporation Book must be 
rehed on for what is to follow. 

It was at a meeting of the burgesses on the third 
day of October, 1772, "that several reputable citi- 
zens were present with the request that the thanks 
of the Corporation be given Emanuel Carpenter, 
Esquire, and George Ross, Esquire, for their services 
as Representatives of the General Assembly of the 
Province." The following addresses were presented 
to these gentlemen, to wit: 

"In behalf of the services rendered by you, 
Emanuel Carpenter, as one of the Representatives 
for the county of Lancaster for these seventeen years 
past, the Burgesses have directed that the thanks 
of the Corporation be offered you, with the assurance 
of their approbation of your steady and uniform 
conduct in that station. And as you have decHned 
serving your county in that capacity, I am charged 
that it is the earnest wish of the inhabitants of 
Lancaster that you may be continued in the com- 



AWAKENING TO HIGHER IDEALS 53 

mission of the peace and a judge in our County 
court, where you have so long presided, and de- 
servedly acquired and supported the character of an 
upright, impartial magistrate." 

Signed, "Casper Shaffner, Town Clerk, dated 
Lancaster October third, 1772" 

Here follows the reply : 

''Gentlemen: The approbation you express of my 
conduct both as a representative and a Magistrate 
for this county gives me great satisfaction. I hope 
to continue to deserve your good opinion by en- 
deavoring to discharge any trust reposed in me 
with impartiality and fidelity." 

Signed, "Emanuel Carpenter." 

Letter of thanks to George Ross : 

"To George Ross: I am authorized. Sir, to say 
that the inhabitants of the Borough intended to 
have shown their sense of your services and be- 
havior by re-electing you, but as, by an unexpected 
opposition of a part of the county whose Deputies 
had agreed with them in fixing you on the ticket; 
and thereby rendered themselves less active in sup- 
porting you, that hath been prevented; they there- 
fore take this method of testifying their approbation 
of your conduct as one of the Representatives in 
Assembly. And I am directed, Sir, in this public 
manner to communicate it to you. 

"Casper Shaffner, Clerk." 

Here follows the answer: 

"Accept my thanks for your kind and public 
appreciation of my conduct while I had the honor 



54 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

of representing you in the Assembly — permit me also 
with the greatest sincerity to assm-e you that my 
actions while I had that honor, were altogether 
governed by what I conceived in conscience would 
tend to increase the advantage and happiness of 
this Province, the trade whereof I have always had 
in view and endeavored to promote: The same 
principles and motives induced me to oppose the 
unreasonable request made for an additional number 
of Representatives for the city of Philadelphia. 
As I conceive it a just balance necessary for pre- 
serving the liberties of the whole Government. 
As the city and county of Philadelphia are now fully 
represented in Assembly, I shall at all times, when 
within my power, render every acceptable service 
to the Borough and county of Lancaster. And shall 
always retain a proper sense of this, your kind ad- 
dress, being sincerely yoiu" and my country's friend." 

Signed, "George Ross." 

These were tributes worthy the cause these two 
great men had espoused in behalf of their constit- 
uents. However, it was at the close of Burgess 
Atlee's fourth consecutive term of office that the 
following substantial tribute of confidence and 
respect was paid him by the Corporation. That 
mention has hitherto been made by other historians, 
makes it none the less worthy of finding a place in 
the chronicler's narrative: 

"In consideration of the services Mr. Atlee has 
done for the Borough in penning and preparing the 
above laws, and refusing to accept a draft on the 
Treasurer for the same, it is unanimously agreed 



AWAKENING TO HIGHER IDEALS 55 

(he having retired at the request of the other gentle- 
men present) that Mr. Henry Lowman and Mr. 
Hobson have some piece of plate made as shall be 
agreeable to Mrs. Atlee — genteel and not too ex- 
pensive, and present the same to her as testimony 
of their approbation of Mr. Atlee's conduct in 
serving the Borough." Where this presentation 
was made, and its value, is not material to the 
chronicler. 

And since it is not possible to take the reader back 
in the flesh to past Revolutionary times, in closing 
this chapter, let the writer quote what a traveler 
had to say of the town of "Old Lancaster" along 
about the time already referred to. 

"When I was a boy, at the quiet corner of North 
Queen and Chestnut there Kved a few old-fashioned 
German famiHes making a Hving by the closest 
economy. Since then, new houses have started up, 
and old ones have been altered and dressed anew. 
Among the improvements are the handsome buildings 
around center square, in place of the one-story houses 
with which the corners were occupied." 

And here the chronicler can only imagine what he 
would have to say could he stand in the "Square" 
on a Saturday evening of to-day, amid the myriads 
of electric hghts with no court house in sight. But 
instead, the Soldiers' Monmnent, trolley-cars and 
automobiles! But to continue the reminiscences: 

"Walking along Orange street, I cannot help but 
contrast its present appearance with what it was in 
my boyhood. At the time it was Httle more than 
a wide lane, with a half dozen houses, nearly all of 



56 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

which are yet standing. The peaceable and retired- 
looking mansion with the willow-tree in front, at 
present inhabited by the widow of Judge Franklin, 
I remember it as a commission store, where trade 
was carried on with a few Indians still in the neigh- 
borhood, and also with those from a greater distance, 
who exchanged their furs and peltries for beads, 
blankets and cutlery— with rum, always on sale," — 
no doubt fresh from the Gibson still. But to con- 
tinue: 

"The house in which the North American hotel is 
kept [now the Brunswick] was occupied by the 
Land Commissioner a few years later. I recall the 
forest trees standing on East King street, nearly as 
far out as McConigle's tavern. What is now called 
Adams-street, then Adamstown, was the most 
thickly inhabited place about. It was a village 
unconnected with Lancaster. The two-story brick 
house, now owned by Mr. Donnely, was used as a 
hospital for the sick and wounded soldiers of the 
Revolution, and numbers He buried in the lot on 
which it stands. What is now the old storehouse 
was then the new college, at which I was placed by 
way of making me a * gentleman.' 

"Annually during fair weeks, June and September, 
you could hardly see the streets for the stables and 
booths, covered with merchandise and trinkets of 
every kind. There were silks, laces and jewelry, 
cahcoes, gingerbread, such as the ladies love; and 
that was the time they got plenty of them, too, for 
the young fellows used to hoard up their pocket- 
money for months to spend at the fairs; and no girl 



AWAKENING TO HIGHER IDEALS 57 

felt ashamed to be treated to a * fairing' even by a 
lad she had never seen before. This was the first 
step toward expressing admiration, and she who 
got the most of the fairings was considered the belle. 

"Then the corners of the streets were taken up 
with mountebanks, rope-dances, and all the latest 
amusements. To see these, each young man took 
the girl that pleased him the most, or, if he had a 
capacious heart, he sometimes took a half dozen. 
There were also the dances — the crowning pleasure 
of all. In every tavern was to be heard the sound 
of the fiddle," and, as the chronicler may add, with 
no ministerial committee in evidence. 

"The most remarkable," continues the traveler, 
"is the Episcopal church which occupies the place 
of the venerable and time-worn edifice that I re- 
member. It was built under a charter granted by 
George II, and never had been entirely finished. 
As I am informed so great was its age and infirmities, 
the congregation were obhged to have it taken down 
to prevent its tumbhng at their ears. I shall never 
forget the last time I sat in it. Every thing about 
the antique and sacred structure made an im- 
pression on my mind not easily to be effaced. Even 
the old sexton, John Webster, a colored man, and 
his wife, Dinah, rustled past in her old-fashioned 
silks with white sleeves, apron and * kerchief.' 
Another remarkable character was old Mr. Pall 
with his glass-head cane, bent figure and hoary 
locks. This patriarch was never absent from the 
broken pew in the corner except when prevented 
from sickness in attending service. 

6 



58 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"The second * antique and sacred structure' was 
erected about 1744 of stone, partly at least when, 
in 1761, the people by way of lottery, raised a con- 
siderable sum of money with which they afterwards 
built a steeple, erected galleries, bought a bell and 
finished a stone wall round the church yard. In 
1765 the vestry resolved that the minister should 
be entitled to a surplice fee of five shilHngs for every 
grave dug in the church yard." No mention is 
made by the writer of the foregoing of how many 
patriarchs were willing to add to the minister's fees in 
like manner. However, as at the time the member- 
ship was not as large as it is today, there was no room 
for envy over the Rector's getting rich in digging 
graves. 

During the year 1820 the edifice, as the chronicler 
knew it during the later forties, was consecrated, and 
in 1827 came the Rev. Samuel Bowman continuing 
until his untimely demise, August 3, 1860. 

If the chronicler has seen fit to speak at some 
length of the old brick church, it is for the reason 
that, as a boy, he sat on a bench on one of the 
galleries that extended along both sides of the 
edifice. And a most lovable pastor was the Rev. 
Samuel Bowman, whose personahty has been deeply 
indentured upon the tablets of our boy-memory. 

But apart from Old St. James, since our boyhood 
greatly improved inwardly and outwardly, there were 
at least four other churches known to most of the 
boys of "Old Lancaster," Old Trinity, built as early 
as 1736, rebuilt in 1785, with its steeple of one 
hundred and ninety-five feet, and where it yet 



AWAKENING TO HIGHER IDEALS 59 

stands beautiful in its symmetrical proportions. 
But what have become of its chimes as they used to 
ring out their Christian melodies? Then there was 
the old stone church presided over by the good 
Father Keenan who, at the age of ninety, when 
reminded of his years, said, "Tut, tut, we'll live as 
long as we can!" And to a good ripe old age he 
did hve, beloved by all. 

We can well recall the Moravian church erected 
about 1742, the Presbyterian church which stood 
where the new edifice now stands. But of all the 
old churches few could compare with the First 
Reformed, dismantled in 1852. It is a pity old 
churches have to go, but go they must to meet the 
wants of a capricious public sentiment. No longer 
are the attendants satisfied to sit on the plain 
benches without backs. They must have cushion 
seats with cushion backs. And even with these, 
the cushion back of an automobile seems to be pre- 
ferable, even on the Sabbath. 

As we close this chapter, the bells of the First 
Methodist are ringing in our ears, carrying us back 
to those early days of boyhood when to attend both 
Sabbath school and church service was a require- 
ment not to be disobeyed except under penalty. 

To close this chapter finally, how fitting are a few 
lines from an unknown poet, and published in the 
Lancaster Intelligencer years ago : 

Ring on, ye bells of Lancaster ! 
Ring boldly forth 1 ring full! ring free; 
Forsaken hopes, long buried joys 
Come creeping down the past to me. 

Oh, tuneful bells! 

Oh, happy bells! 
Oh, chiming bells of Lancaster! 



CHAPTER V 

The Incoming of a New Era for the Borough 
OF Lancaster 

It is pleasing as well as diverting to review the 
minutes of the "Corporation Book" during the 
seventy-six years of the burgomasters' rule. If 
regret follow, it is because the narrator was not 
a part of the town's village life at the time it was 
converted into a borough by the founder, James 
Hamilton, in 1742. But even could this be shown, 
the dwellers of this twentieth century would not 
beheve even the date or name contained in any 
one of the burgesses' bibles! 

However, following William Atlee in 1774, came 
Wilham Bausman, who held the office of chief 
burgess until 1778, when he was succeeded by 
Henry Dehuff, with Michael Diffenderfer as burgess. 
The foregoing well-known names have been handed 
down from Revolutionary times to find their de- 
scendants, the Atlees, Bausmans and Diffenderfers, 
still among the well known of this twentieth century. 

Under Chief Burgess WiUiam Bausman we find, 
at the close of the September fair-week, the amount 
of money received by Stophel Franciscus, treasurer, 
for the use of the Corporation, 39 pounds, 14 shillings, 
3 pence. Out of this gross sum was allowed for 
building stalls, 8 pounds; poles, 1 pound; to cryer 

60 



THE INCOMING OF A NEW ERA 61 

for opening the fair, five shillings; two constables 
for attendance, one pound. The balance, 2 pounds, 
was the neat Httle sum accruing to the corporation 
out of the holding of the fair. 

At this meeting "it was ordered that Stans Ferry 
be warned not to put any more straw or hay on the 
garret of his dwelling house; and that he remove 
from before his door certain nusiances; also, that 
he cut off his posts and lower his pavement three 
inches as soon as he can get workmen to do it." 

It was also ordered that the high constable shall 
receive yearly three pounds out of the corporation 
stock for his extraordinary services and trouble 
which he has had in attending and serving the 
corporation. A year later, it was ordered that "the 
three pounds allowed this officer as a yearly salary 
should not be paid him any longer." 

Complaints having been made, it was ordered 
that "hugsters shall be stationed at certain places 
in the market, and that they shall sell nothing but 
eatables whatsoever, and if they offer to sell any 
kind of merchandise, they shall be under the penalty 
of forfeiting their hcense. And, hkewise, that they 
shall pay yearly ten shillings for their standing 
room." 

Passing over pages of the same kind of embargoes 
of dispensers of every kind of marketable products 
from which a small pittance could be had in support 
of the town government, mention shall be made of 
the center square log court house, erected in 1730 
and destroyed by fire in 1781. However, in 1783 
the second, a brick structure, was built on the same 



62 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

site. As the reader shall learn, at no time from 
1742 to 1818 were meetings held by the burgesses in 
either the log or the brick com't house. This may 
have been owing to the fact that each in turn was 
under the jurisdiction of the court and for county 
purposes. However, of this more later. 

As history makes mention, before the log court 
house was destroyed by fire, it was well and favorably 
known inwardly at least for its historic importance. 
What helped to make it memorable was the great 
treaty conference between the governors of Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland and Virginia and certain of 
the Indian chiefs in the settlement of grievances 
which had sprung up among the white settlers and 
their various tribes. 

Again, what continued to make the log court 
house still better known, occurred on the Fourth of 
July, 1776, while the Declaration was being read in 
Independence Hall, Philadelphia. It was then that 
the Pennsylvania militia was in session in the 
borough court house, its purpose being to resist the 
invasion of the British army. 

And here is the story of how it came to be de- 
stroyed in 1781. Quoting from one who knew 
whereof he wrote: "It had been undergoing some 
repairs, and as the plasterers were at work, a quan- 
tity of Hme was put on the inside to secure it from 
the weather. Some supposed the lime had set it 
afire, others, that the clock-repairer, being neghgent, 
had set it afire. There were still others, that some 
villain had caused its destruction." However, two 
years later, in 1783, a second, a brick structure, was 
built on the site of the old log building. 



THE INCOMING OF A NEW ERA 63 

As SO much has been written concerning this later 
court house, it will be described by one who was 
famihar with its interior as well as exterior: "It was 
quadrangular in shape, two stories high, with four 
gables, and large bell, surmounted with a steeple 
in which was placed a good clock with four faces 
and time-piece, which struck out the hours of day 
and night. 

"There was a door in the center of each front, 
facing entrance to the four principal streets. The 
door on the North Queen Street front was never 
opened, that part being occupied by the Judges' 
Bench. The west door was opened only when there 
was a great crowd; the east door was used principally 
by lawyers and court-officers." 

Aside from what has been quoted, what fond 
memories Hnger in the mind of the octogenarian 
chronicler of this same court house so graphically 
described by one who knew it even better than the 
writer as a boy in his teens. Well can he recall how 
the voters of the foiu- wards gathered to cast their 
ballots, each ward with a separate window, except 
when a fight occurred, when they would flock to- 
gether in defending their party rights. 

But the narrator is getting ahead of his story: 
During Revolutionary times few meetings were held, 
the time of the burgesses being taken up with 
matters pertaining to the war. This the minutes 
show: "That meetings had not been adhered to on 
account of their falling on troublesome times when 
the majority of Burgesses and assistants could not 
attend." However at an impromptu meeting in 



64 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

1782, "it was unanimously agreed to that, owing 
to the discord among the prisoners of war, that the 
brick house on the * commons' be immediately con- 
verted into quarters fit for the reception of the sick, 
who are at once to be placed therein; Hkewise, that 
the Continental stables be converted and fitted up 
into Barracks for the reception of any such troops 
as may necessarily and promptly require quarters 
in this place." 

The following testimonial of regard was presented 
to General Hazen, bearing the title of Brigadier 
General: "Sir: We the Burgesses and Assistants do 
with the utmost satisfaction return you and your 
officers our most sincere and warmest thanks for the 
many distinguished proofs of your regard and atten- 
tion to them and to the inhabitants. Your generous 
undertaking in erecting Barracks for the reception 
of your troops, and others that may hereafter require 
quarters, and thereby easing the inhabitants, your 
faithful and steady attention as superintendent of 
prisoners of war, merits the approbation and thanks 
of this Corporation. This testimonial is entrusted 
to Mr. WilHam Parr and John Hobson who will 
deliver the same to you in person." 

Wliere the barracks stood is not as important as 
to know the purpose it served during the Revolution. 
Among the first prisoners who came to Lancaster 
in 1775 was Major Andre, who was captured by 
General Montgomery, in Upper Canada of the 
same year, and taken, with other officers, to Lan- 
caster, and where he became an inmate of Caleb 
Cope's house, standing at the time at the northeast 



THE INCOMING OF A NEW ERA 65 

corner of Lime and Grant Streets where the Baker 
mansion now stands. The writer, who wrote a 
very interesting biographical sketch of Major Andre 
and Caleb Cope, states that "Caleb Cope, the elder, 
was Burgess of Lancaster, Pa., under the British 
Government, immediately prior to the Revolution. 
The eldest of the five sons, John, then in his thir- 
teenth year, received lessons in drawing from Major 
Andre; and that the three brothers, John, Wilham 
and Thomas, had, in after life, vivid recollections of 
their games of marbles and other juvenile sports 
with the lively young Enghsh ofiicer who was destined 
to figure so terribly in the after history of this 
country." 

Referring once more to the compUmentary letter 
written by the burgesses it may have grown out of 
an episode so graphically portrayed in a paper read 
before the Lancaster County Historical Society by 
Mr. Frank Diffenderffer. 

Only its length precludes its insertion in the 
author's narrative. This much may be set forth: 
"The old Barracks was the scene of one of the most 
exciting episodes of the war of Independence." The 
prison was surrounded by a stockade of logs and 
strongly guarded, but, in spite of all precautions, 
prisoners escaped and found their way back to the 
British army. It was General Hazen who devised 
a plan to detect the method of escape. A Captain 
Lee, a patriotic officer, was selected to carry out 
the scheme. He disguised himself as a British officer 
and was thrust into the jail with the others. At 
the time he could discover nothing, but one night 



66 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

while lying awake, the door was opened silently and 
an old woman came in, touched the nearest sleeping 
prisoner, who arose; then she approached Lee, 
looked at him and whispered, "Not the man, but 
come." This seemed to be the opportunity so long 
awaited, and he also arose and followed. The woman 
was alarmed and went out, telHng Lee to follow. 
And he did follow the British prisoners for twelve 
days, stopping during the day in barns and farm 
houses of the Tories, where they found food and 
were cared for. One of the number recognized Lee, 
who had punished him, and he told the leader who 
he was. This man attempted to kill Lee, but both 
were seized and carried before a magistrate by some 
loyal countrymen. Lee told his tale, but was not 
beheved, and sent to jail. He prevailed on the 
jailor to carry a note to General Lincoln, who was 
at the time in Philadelphia, and who almost failed 
to recognize him in his rags. "Lee returned to 
Lancaster, and was instrumental in arresting and 
punishing fifteen persons who had aided the prisoners 
to escape." 

What in addition happened in "Old Lancaster" 
during these exciting times is a story in itself to be 
found in any one of the histories of the Revolution. 

It has aheady been said that fairs were held 
twice a year during June and September with the 
exception of two years. It was at a meeting of the 
burgesses in 1783 that there came a petition from 
business men and others to revive the former 
custom. At last, in conformity to the petitioners' 
pleadings, "It was resolved. Whereas, the Borough 



THE INCOMING OF A NEW ERA 67 

hath for several years been deprived of holding fairs 
on account of an oppressive, but at length a glorious 
ended war — it is agreed that poles be immediately 
provided for the setting up of stalls, and the reestab- 
lishing of former customs of holding fairs to the 
great advantage of country people and our good 
inhabitants." And so the custom was reestabhshed, 
continuing down to the year 1818 as money-pro- 
ducers. After the burgesses had handed the borough 
over to the nine select and fifteen common council- 
men, fairs were conducted by individual enterprise. 
With but an occasional exception these annual fall 
assemblies of city and country people may be con- 
sidered as coordinate with the founding of the 
town as far back as the townstead itself. And the 
only wonder is that some humorist has not written 
a volume on fairs. At times they have been money- 
makers, at others money losers, but just how much 
profit or loss is not usually mentioned by the pro- 
moters. 

Fairs, bless me! in addition to Whitmonday, 
April first — until they fell out of custom — were to 
"Old Lancaster" what the modern game of base- 
ball was only a few years ago to the "bleachers" 
ready to wend their way to Rossmere on a trolley 
car to the neglect of more important business. But 
the circus with its parade of animals, clowns and 
riders! The first to be recalled was in a lot opposite 
the Poor House Hill along in the early fifties. At the 
time, from the corner where stands the Brunswick 
stood a long row of frame sheds extending to Chris- 
tian Street and used as eating rooms for the country 



68 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

visitors. And where lived the boy who would not 
run away from school to witness a circus parade? 
And maybe shp under the circus tent? This habit 
was not confined to days gone by ! In many respects 
boy-nature never changes. Nor is it confined to 
the ragtail and bobtail of the town's youngsters. 
As the chronicler has every reason to know, running 
away from school to see the elephants has made at 
least one good judge who, if he were running a show 
himself, instead of a juvenile court, would let in all 
the school boys gratis. So, let every school board 
close the schools for an hour at least on every circus 
day, and if for no other reason than that even the 
modern day picture show is an educator of youth. 

But to what the minutes of the burgesses have to 
set forth. There was one example for incoming 
generations to profit by. If they did not open many 
of the streets, they usually managed to keep receipts 
and expenditures evenly balanced at the close of 
each year without piling up debts for their descend- 
ants to pay. Of course, at the time of which we 
write, the town did not extend very far in any direc- 
tion from the court house except along the four 
streets, north, south, east and west. And yet it 
has been written by one who had visited the borough 
that a certain man who hved a square or two east- 
ward on King Street would occasionally find his 
way from the country to the "hub" to learn the 
news, but more likely to indulge himseK in a "swig- 
ger" that came from the Gibson still; and years 
before the government had placed an embargo over 
all distilled spirits. Whether tavernkeeper Gibson 



THE INCOMING OF A NEW ERA 69 

was fined for selling on the Sabbath except to 
travelers, inmates and others, no mention is made in 
the Corporation Book. It would have been an act 
of discourtesy on the part of the burgomasters to 
disclose secrets that are kept inviolate by council- 
men down even to the present day. 

And here it must not be forgotten that as these 
custodians were engaged in the building up of the 
town, what they needed most were strangers to 
make the wheels of industry go round. And who 
can doubt that an occasional one coming from 
Philadelphia did not help leaven the loaf in giving 
the borough a Saturday evening appearance even 
without street lights strung along the principal 
thoroughfares like unto this twentieth century? 

During our boyhood there was a game called 
" Follow Your Leader." This game is still in vogue, 
not so much among boys as among men of all political 
parties. We get the cue, and, after getting it, go 
following our leader, may be for the reason that 
so few men are capable of leading except in their 
own particular line of business. 

It has been said only too frequently, "Put your 
best men in office." And into office many have 
gone, only to find out how httle they knew of the 
science of city government, and how much they had 
to learn. Possibly before the conclusion of the 
narrative, the chronicler may find a solution for the 
difficult problem of better local government. 

However, because a man is successful in his own 
line of business is no guarantee that he has found a 
cure for his town's numerous ills. If such can be 



70 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

found even among the members of the Automobile 
Club or the Chamber of Commerce, they would be 
worth their weight in solid gold. Critics each and 
every generation have had in telling just how this or 
that should be done at the least possible expense. 
But when the tax rate is mentioned with the property 
valuation, and their own likely to be increased, phew, 
the poor old city! Everybody is ready to give it a 
fling I And why ? Because everybody is part owner ! 

There is one class in every town or city that 
cannot well be ignored. It is the laboring element, 
and who, being without a trade or other means of 
support, naturally look for employment if not in 
one way then in another. They constitute an im- 
portant factor, especially during election time, when 
their votes are not to be ignored by the political 
leaders. And after all, it is a blessed thing that 
employment be given old men who have seen better 
days. 

It is the ballot in this free country that is every 
man's defensive or offensive, and can be used on 
the day of election individually or collectively. 
But results count only when there is concentration, 
or what may be called consensus of opinion expressed 
in numbers. 

So completely has local government been system- 
atized as to make the stray voter wonder how it 
has been accomplished! It is a science known 
alone to those who have made town government a 
study. This the average citizen does not do, possibly 
for the want of time, possibly because he does not 
care I Then party pohtics is more binding than 



THE INCOMING OF A NEW ERA 71 

church creeds on the average church member. The 
minister may preach a sermon of an hour's length 
the Sabbath before election on what he considers 
the voter's duty, but when the voter stands before 
the man with the poll-book — perhaps the parson's 
own son or other near relative — the political sermon 
he has to whisper in the voter's ear is the more 
convincing. 

And so, the longer the chronicler struggles to 
find a solution for the vexed question of better 
municipal government, the less he is able to suc- 
ceed. Perhaps, before the volume is completed, the 
reader may learn something from the action of the 
burgesses extending down through seventy-six years. 



CHAPTER VI 

The Election of Burgess Edward Hand of 
Revolutionary Fame 

At the close of Henry Dehuff's term, came that 
of Jacob Reigart, followed by Henry Bering, serving 
until 1789, when that great patriot of Revolutionary 
times, Edward Hand, was elected chief burgess. It 
was at the time when the people, through their 
representatives, were looking for a site for the 
national government. Philadelphia, Baltimore and 
other towns had become aspirants for the honor of 
becoming the nation's future capital. Nor were 
the inhabitants of "Old Lancaster" any the less 
interested, beheving as they did that their own 
inland town was possessed of a greater number of 
advantages than those of any other site that might 
be offered. 

The following letter was written by Chief Burgess 
Hand on the seventeenth of March, 1789, to senators 
and representatives, and brings into hght, to a 
greater extent than hitherto, the status of the 
borough of Lancaster, its internal improvements and 
social hfe, enumerating its diversity of local industries 
which, in the estimation of Burgess Hand, were not 
surpassed in the town's size and possibilities by any 
other in the Union. 

As the letter is somewhat lengthy, only a portion 

72 



ELECTION OF BURGESS EDWARD HAND 73 

shall be given, and yet sufficient to show the love 
this patriot had for his adopted city. And so, mark 
with what sincerity the letter was written. It 
began: 

"Borough of Lancaster, March 17, 1789. 

''Gentlemen: The Corporation of this Borough 
have been instructed by the inhabitants thereof and 
adjoining township to address you. The new Con- 
stitution, to which we anxiously sought as a means 
of establishing the Empire of America on the most 
sure and solid basis, is now in motion, and one of 
the objects of Congress will be to fix a permanent 
place of residence where their exclusive jurisdiction 
can be conveniently and safely exercised. 

"Should the general interests of the Union point 
out an inland, central situation as preferable to a 
seaport for the future residence of your Honorable 
Body, We humbly offer ourselves as candidate for 
that distinguished honor. As an inland town, we 
do not consider ourselves inferior to any within the 
Dominion of the United States. Our lands are 
remarkably fertile and in a high state of cultivation. 
Our town is possessed of every advantage for Water 
Works, as will appear from the draughts herewith 
sent, and pecuharly healthy, with springs, weUs and 
pumps in nearly every portion of the town." 

"Springs, wells and pumps in nearly every portion 
of the town!" This was no exaggerated statement 
of Burgess Hand. Only those who have lived 
through the days of old can recall how boys were 
sent with pitcher on a warm July afternoon for a 
draught of clear, sparkHng pump-water! Of course 

7 



74 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

ice was harvested, to be stored away during winter, 
provided the season was favorable. But this was 
years before the manufactured product came to 
take the place of that gathered at Graeff 's Landing. 

At the time bacteria, if known to the medical 
fraternity, were not heralded through the newspapers 
as a warning to bathers. They enjoyed their after- 
noon and evening baths as a god-given privilege. 
But, as the city grew, with the sewage in greater 
quantity finding its way into the Conestoga, the 
cry went out, "Beware of the germs I" Think for a 
moment. Who would have thought seventy years 
ago that the time would ever come when placards 
were to be tacked to this or that tree as a warning 
to old and young? And yet in this advanced age of 
scientific discoveries, the Conestoga is avoided by 
bathers as dangerous to both health and even fife! 

But to conclude Burgess Hand's letter to Repre- 
sentatives and Senators of the United States: To 
the city's inhabitants of this twentieth century it 
cannot help but provoke a smile to think that 
"Old Lancaster" in 1789 should presume to offer 
itself as suitable for the United States capital! 
And it was not a joke either! No, no! The letter 
meant just what it said. Now mark what is to 
follow, enough to make the mayor and councils of 
"New Lancaster" stand up and take notice! 

"Every necessary material is to be had and in 
the greatest quantity desired at the most reasonable 
rates. We venture to assert that there is no part 
of the United States which can boast, within the 
compass of ten miles, a larger number of wagons 
and good teams than ourselves! 



ELECTION OF BURGESS EDWARD HAND 75 

"The Borough of Lancaster is a square encom- 
passing a portion of ground one mile in length from 
the center (the court house) by the main streets 
which intersect at right angles. We have five public 
buildings, including an elegant coiu^t house, fifty by 
forty-eight feet. In the second story thereof is a 
very handsome room 44 by 32 feet in the clear, and 
two convenient adjoining rooms, each being 22 by 
16 in the clear. There are several places of worship 
besides a temporary synagogue, belonging to the 
respective Societies of Episcopalian, Presbyterian, 




CONESTOGA WAGON. 



Lutherans, Reformed Church of Heidelberg, Mora- 
vian, Quakers and Catholics." 

Note what is to follow, and you, dear reader, will 
almost think yourself back in "Old Lancaster" of 
one hundred and twenty years ago : 

"Within the compass of the Borough, an enumera- 
tion of dwellings was actually taken in 1786, and the 
number then built was 678. Many of the houses 
are large and elegant, and would, in our idea, accom- 
modate Congress and their Suite at this period 
without inconvenience. Boarding and lodging are 
to be had at very easy rates. According to the best 



76 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

computation we can make, there are within this 
Borough about 4200 souls." 

Again note the town's industries — "14 hatters, 
36 shoemakers, 4 tanners, 17 saddlers, 25 tailors, 
22 butchers, 25 weavers, 25 blacksmiths, 12 public 
bakers, 30 carpenters, 11 coopers, 6 dyers, 7 gun- 
smiths, 5 ropemakers, 5 tinners, 2 brass-founders, 
3 skin-dressers, 1 brushmaker, 7 turners, 7 nailors, 
5 silversmiths, 3 potters, 3 coppersmiths, 3 breweries, 
3 brickyards, 3 printing presses, and 40 houses of 
public entertainment within the Borough. 

"The current price of provisions — wheat, 5 shilling 
sixpence; rye, 3 shilhng; Indian corn, 2/6; oats, 1/6; 
best hay, 3 £ per ton; pork and stall-fed beef from 
25/ to 30 per cwt. All kinds of poultry in great 
abundance and reasonable. Shad, rock and sahnon 
are plentifully supphed from the Susquehanna in 
their seasons." 

And here the chronicler can only say that, if this 
letter had been written in this year 1917, he might 
have said something of how these species of fish 
had been destroyed by the coal refuse coming down 
the river. 

As in that epoch of over a century ago, when the 
borough had a population of but 4,200, with but 
678 dwellings, these burgesses must have considered 
the town of some importance. And verily justified 
they were in boosting it instead of discounting it, 
as is done at the present day by some who never 
know when they are well off. 

It is well to remember that in the years to come 
old newspapers will be read over; and it is not 



ELECTION OF BURGESS EDWARD HAND 77 

pleasant for us to feel what other people will think 
when they read of criticism made by present-day 
critics except to complain of muddy and dusty 
streets. 

But let us conclude Burgess Hand's letter. Think 
of "forty houses of pubHc entertainment" within 
the borough of 4,200 souls! — one for every hundred 
of the town's population! Of course, all could not 
have been taverns nor even apartment houses with 
"rooms to let." Some few must have been places 
of amusement for senators, congressmen, their wives 
and daughters; but the kind of entertainment! 
Of one thing we feel reasonably sure, there were not 
any moving pictures shows bearing the slogan "The 
Hamilton," "Hippodrome," "Scenic," "Colonial" 
and others. 

It takes no vivid imagination to place oneself in 
the mental condition of these burgesses as they sat 
in the ease of contentment, awaiting a favorable 
response to the letter sent no doubt by special 
deUvery to senators and representatives. 

As the missive had not been kept a profound 
secret from the shopkeepers, tavernkeepers and 
boarding house-keepers, we can only think what a 
hurly-burly of excitement all were put to in making 
preparation for the incoming of this representative 
body! How much time was devoted by the janitor 
in getting the court house in order may never be 
known! What the reader shall shortly learn is 
that the court house was later handed over to 
Congress at least for one short day; and that, at a 
still later time, was used by the Legislature for over a 



78 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

decade. But why anticipate coming events? The 
narrator has enough to do to fathom the depths of 
gloom which hung over the burgesses and their 
assistants, as for many weary weeks they hopefully 
looked forward to converting the borough into a 
"New Lancaster." 

We believe it is the regret of every councilman of 
today that the verdict was not favorable! The 
reply, if one came, must have been destroyed by the 
burgesses for fear of the commotion its reception 
might likely have created among shopkeepers, 
butchers, bread bakers, and last among the owners 
of the forty places of public entertainment! 

The reader will recall the order to the clerk to 
visit every public baker and weigh each loaf. And 
now, imagine if you can, by whom all the bread 
was consumed by a population of but 4,200 souls. 
Of course, there could not have been any delivery- 
wagons going from village to village. All that can 
be inferred is that the inhabitants must have been 
pretty good bread eaters to keep the twelve town 
bakers busy. Then think again of the bake ovens 
necessary ! 

But let us not overlook the "twenty-two" butch- 
ers! By whom all the choice roasts were consumed 
is another puzzler for the chronicler. But as the 
choicest of these could be had at a sixpence per 
pound, to hve on the fat of the land was better than 
to hve in a city of fifty thousand with roasts at 
fifty cents per pound, and none of the best at that! 

But the chronicler must not forget the trend of 
his narrative by indulging himself too freely in 



ELECTION OF BURGESS EDWARD HAND 79 

helping the reader to think out what he is able to 
reason to his own satisfaction. 

No. We are not disposed to find fault with the 
burgesses for trying to prevent people from getting 
drunk on the pubhc streets! They may be blamed 
for allowing three distilleries in full operation. But 
as they were revenue producers, hke those of the 
present day, they were tolerated as a necessary 
evil. Again, how could the twelve pubhc bakers 
have carried on their business without "sots" to 
make the dough rise? Why, during our boyhood, 
nearly every half-grown lad could be seen with kettle 
in hand on his way to Shearer's distillery, around the 
corner at North Queen and Lemon Streets for a 
supply of this old-fashioned ingredient. And when 
these tired lads received a shce of their mothers' 
home-made bread as round as a miniature race- 
track covered with "smearkase" and molasses, 
what more could their hearts desire than perhaps 
another shce of the same kind? 

In the "good old days" people ate hog and 
hominy, jowl and greens, bacon and beans, "snitz 
and knep," without any knowledge of their inner 
organs. Today a boy hves on cigarettes, the girls 
on chewing gum, their fathers at the "club," their 
mothers at their sociables when not out collecting. 
However, a tap on the shoulder by one in authority 
admonished the chronicler that, for the sake of 
family peace — and with this gentle hint, the chapter 
closes, with a few more complaints on the part of 
the burgesses : 

"As many inconveniences have arisen from the 



80 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

butchers bringing their dogs with them to market, 
it is ordered that they confine them at home dm:'ing 
the market hours; and hkewise as the market place 
has been obstructed by their not keeping their blocks 
in regular order which has prevented a regular 
thoroughfare through the market, it is ordered that 
after cutting up their meat, the clerk shall see that 
this regulation is enforced." 

Also: "As frequent complaints have been made 
by the inhabitants from the inconvenience of swine 
running at large through the borough, it is ordered 
that the High Constable shall make proclamation 
for that purpose in confining them for the space 
of four days from this date under penalty of five 
shillings to the informer and one half of the swine 
taken for the poor of the borough." 

Here follows an order on John Hobson, late 
treasurer: Sir, please pay to WiUiam Ross, the 
present treasurer, the simi of seventy two pounds 
four pence specie, and sixty one pounds thirteen 
shillings and four pence Continental Currency which 
now remains in yom* hands, and this shall be your 
order, given under my hand this 10 day of October, 

"Jacob Reigart, Burgess." 

This is the first mention of Continental Currency 
by the burgesses. Of course it was generally in 
use at the time in 1786 and for some years previous 
among merchants and the pubHc generally. It 
would seem that the trouble with butchers would 
never cease. "Finding a number continuing at 
home and seUing their meat during market hours. 



ELECTION OF BURGESS EDWARD HAND 81 

the Corporation have resolved that every one and 
each in said borough bring their meat to market on 
each market day and there continue with the sale 
until the hour of nine in the morning. For non- 
compHance for each offence, they will suffer a 
penalty of fifteen shilling. It is further resolved 
that they weigh their meat by scales, owing to a 
bad custom they have of blowing up their mutton 
by their breath; therefore, all meat thus blown up 
shall be confiscated. 

"Again, as wood is an expensive article to the 
Borough we have thought fit to appoint three 
assistants to the clerk of the mauket who for every 
cord shall be entitled six pence paid by the farmer 
of the wood if it be deficient in being a good cord 
to the purchaser." 

Think for a moment of wood being a scarce article 
a century and a half ago! No, it was not that 
cord wood was scarce, with nearly three fourths of 
the county heavily timbered. There were other 
reasons. Reports coming from the treeless West, 
led the farmers to believe that the most valuable 
of their holdings were their timber tracts. And in 
this, but for the discovery of coal at a somewhat 
later day, their hopes might have been realized. 
Who would have ever imagined that at the time 
mentioned, there could have been a "corner" in 
cord-wood for domestic use.^^ It seems almost 
incredible! And yet, from other sources we learn 
that to cut down a forest tree for family use was 
considered sacrilegious. Only the dead trees were 
cut out to make more room for the young, healthy 



82 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

timber. It is within the recollection of the chron- 
icler that on both sides of the turnpike leading east 
from Witmer's bridge, timber grew in an over- 
abundance. The same along other pikes. It was 
only after the cultivation of tobacco became highly 
profitable that the oaks and hickories had to go. 
No doubt these included the famous hickory that 
stood before the Gibson Inn. This historic tree 
being one of the landmarks of the town, it came 
early to be associated with what were called the 
"Hickory Indians," thereby receiving the name 
"Hickory" town. 

The statement having been set forth that down to 
the year 1812, no general system of property taxa- 
tion had been authorized by act of Assembly, the 
following taken from the minutes of October 7, 1791, 
will make only too clear: 

"Whereas, it is highly necessary that the Cor- 
poration should strictly attend to the due applica- 
tion of the monies assessed or levied and received 
for fines or penalties by virtue of the act of Assembly 
passed the 22 of January, 1774, entitled an act for 
regulating the buildings, keeping in repair the 
streets, lanes and highways in the Borough of 
Lancaster and for other purposes therein mentioned, 
Therefore — Ordered that the highway constable give 
notice to the present supervisors to be ready on the 
time of setthng their accounts to inform the Cor- 
poration what streets, lanes and alleys and highways 
have been repaired and what sums of money may 
have been expended on any particular street in 
order that the Corporation may be able to judge 



ELECTION OF BURGESS EDWARD HAND 83 

of the due application for that purpose expended 
and whether the same were just and reasonable 
according to act of Assembly aforesaid." 

From the proceedings of the burgesses, it would 
seem that no one carrying on any kind of business 
having to do in supplying the public, could escape 
the tax-collector. The employed officials were ever 
on the go from public bread baker to butcher, 
artisans, peddlers, and others from whom a few 
pounds, shilHngs and pence might be gathered 
wherewith to keep the town's wheels in motion. 
But of all the revenue collected, the greater portion 
came from markets and fairs. To close this chapter, 
let the twentieth-century reader be thankful for 
even an increase in taxation, with the hope that one 
of these days "New Lancaster" may have a just 
and equitable assessment of all property. Nor can 
the people of this city ever hope to have better 
streets until that day arrives. Go where one may, 
the most absorbing question is a just and equitable 
assessment of town property. For a full century 
the taxpayers have talked it over, but it seems 
favoritism is still the rule in most cities with Lan- 
caster being no exception if complaints generally 
made have any foundation in fact. 

In closing this chapter, it may not be amiss to 
ask holders of turnpike stock to locate once upon a 
time Anderson's Ferry & New Haven Turnpike 
chartered in 1810? A certificate has been copied, 
as follows : 

"Evidence of Stock 

"Anderson's Ferry, Waterford & New Haven 
Turnpike Office, Jan. 30, 1812. 



84 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"Be it hereby certified, by the President, 
Managers and Company of the Anderson's Ferry, 
Waterford & New Haven Turnpike Road, That 
James Mehaffey of Waterford, Lancaster County, 
having paid thirty Dollars, is entitled to one share 
of stock in the said company, numbered two hundred 
and ninety three, transferable in the presence of the 
President or Treasurer, by the said James Mehaffey — 
or his Attorney, subject to the payments now due or 
to become due agreeably to the Act of Assembly of 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the 
nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, 
one thousand eight hundred and ten, and Sealed 
with the Common Seal of the Company. 
"George Snyder, Treasurer, 

"Henry Share, President 

We do not know at what price per share the 
Marietta turnpike stock is valued at today, changed 
as has the Company's name. 

A bid for this one share, number two hundred 
and ninety-three, properly endorsed by the president 
and treasurer, is awaited by the chronicler. 



CHAPTER VII 

Recommendation by the Grand Inquest, Re- 
sulting IN the Building of City Hall 

We are now to reach an important epoch of the 
administration of the burgesses at their meeting of 
the fourth of April, 1794, in which it was "Resolved, 
That the agreement entered into on the first day of 
January last, respecting the building for the public 
offices on part of the site of the market house, 
together with the concurrence of the Court thereon, 
be entered on the records of this Corporation — 
and are as follows, (to wit) 

"The Grand Inquest 

" (Seventeen in number being present) for the 
body of the county of Lancaster, at their Sessions, 
1794, are unanimously of the opinion. That the 
Corporation of the Borough of Lancaster will grant 
a spot of ground, part of the ground allotted for the 
market place, which may be thought suitable for 
erecting the public buildings, which spot of ground 
shall be granted free of expences to the county, and 
that such pubhc buildings shall be erected on soHd 
ground of two stories high, unless it shall be thought 
necessary to build arched cellars underneath, in 
such case the Grand Inquest unanimously recom- 
mend such buildings to be erected. 

85 



86 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

" Signed — P. Musselman 

William Kelly John Barvel 

William Smith John Baughman 

Jacob Johns Michael Hess 

Frederick Segar John Free 

Jacob GraefF John Roberts 

Abraham Whiteside Nathaniel Zagnr 

Thomas Evans Thomas Robinson 

Christian KaufFman Wilham Boel 

"The Com-t concurred with the Grand Jury so 
far as relates to the erection of the public buildings 
on the site of the market house in the manner the 
jury have pointed out : 
"By the Court: 

"John Hubley, Chief clerk of the Court of 
Quarter Sessions of the Peace." 

At a meeting of the Burgesses, January 1, 1795, 
it was concluded and agreed that "the Commis- 
sioners with the approbation of the Judges of the 
Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, 
may erect a building for the public offices on the 
present site of the market house, that is to say, 
on the east end of the same, the breadth of which 
building shall be twenty-eight to thirty feet from 
south to north, and the length thereof, forty-five or 
fifty feet from east to west. Done at the Borough 
aforesaid the day and year afor mentioned. Paul 
Zantzinger, C. B. Charles Shaffner, B." 

Here follows the consent of the judges : " We do by 
virtue of the presentment of the Grand Jury, consent 
that the Commissioners of the county of Lan- 



DECISION TO BUILD CITY HALL 87 

caster, do erect the public ofl&ces on the ground within 
allotted for that piu-pose. They further order and 
direct that the said Commissioners procure a plan 
or plans for the same building for the approbation 
of the said court, the expence thereof to be paid 
out of the county stock : 

"Signed, Joseph Henry 

Robert Coleman 
Frederic Kuhn 
Andrew Graff" 

It was at the house of PhiUp Diffenderfer on the 
twenty-fourth day of February, 1798, that it was 
resolved by the burgesses that the corporation meet 
at the house of Jacob Frey, March 2, in order to 
take into consideration the building of the "New 
Market House." At this meeting appeared a com- 
mittee from Blue Lodge No. 43, consisting of Charles 
Smith, Henry Bering, WiUiam Kirkpatrick, and 
John Miller, Jr., to consult and to agree with the 
corporation respecting the privilege of erecting a 
superstructure upon the market house for the use 
of the Freemason Lodge, No. 43. The committee 
handed the corporation the following proposals, to 
wit: 

"The Corporation to erect pillars and arches 
sufficiently strong to support the superstructure and 
roof, which pillars and arches are to be at the 
expence of the Corporation; the Lodge to build the 
superstructure and roof the building from floor and 
ceihng; the Corporation to grant the right to erect 



88 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

this superstructure and the direction of its uses of 
it to such trustees as may be appointed by the 
Lodge — But a room shall always be reserved for 
the use of the meetings of the Corporation — All 
other pubUc uses of the rooms to be at the option 
of the Lodge. 

"If the Corporation should think it proper to 
erect pillars in the Square, beyond the extent of 
the main market building for the use of the country 
market people, the Lodge will extend the roof over 
the same, floor, ceil, paint and finish it in a neat 
manner. [This was never done.] 

"We on the part of the Lodge and on the part 
of the Corporation agree to the above proposals — 
By order of the Corporation: Paul Zantzinger, C. B. 
By order of the Lodge — C. Smith, Henry Bering, 
John Miller, Jr., L. Lauman. 

"At a meeting, March 22 following, at the house 
of Philip Diffenderfer, the erection of the market 
house being under consideration, it is agreed that 
the market house shall be built agreeably to the 
proposals this day signed by the Chief Burgess on 
the part of the Borough, and on the part of the 
Mason's Lodge No. 43, by Charles Smith, John 
Miller, Jr., Lewis Lauman and Henry Deering: 

"Agreed that Paul Zantzinger, John Hubley and 
■Jacob Krug or any two of them are appointed to 
procure materials and workmen for the building of 
the above mentioned market house, in conjunction 
with any person or persons that the Lodge 43 will 
appoint for the same purpose." 

At a meeting at the house of Jacob Frey, April 5, 



DECISION TO BUILD CITY HALL 89 

following, it was ordered "that the committee 
appointed March 22 last to employ workmen and 
procm-e materials for the building of the market 
house in conjunction with the persons who may be 
appointed by Lodge 43 — reported that, in conjunc- 
tion with Charles Smith, William Kirkpatrick and 
Lewis Lauman, on the part of the said Lodge — 
The said committee agreed with George Peters, 
brickmaker, Jacob Albright, mason and bricklayer, 
and GodUeb Sener, carpenter, as workmen and 
persons to procure material for the said building 
agreeably to the contract signed by them and pro- 
duced to the Corporation, the same being duly 
considered is agreed to and approved by the Cor- 
poration. 

"Agreed that Paul Zantzinger and John Hubley, 
the Burgesses in whose names the order is drawn 
by the Commissioners of the county for the money 
granted by the Grand Jury and Court, toward the 
building of the market house, do call on the treasurer 
of the county, and receive the amount of the said 
order and deposite the same in the hands of John 
Roberts, the treasurer of the Corporation for the 
purposes of defraying the expences of the said 
building, and paying the same on the orders of the 
two Burgesses for the use of the said building. 
Paul Zantzinger, C. B." 

That the market house was erected in 1798, in- 
cluding the superstructure, is evidenced by the 
date on the West King side of the Lodge rooms. 

At a meeting held January 21, it was resolved, 



90 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"That butcher stalls in the new market house be 
numbered, and that the butchers meet at the house 
of Jacob Frey on the evening of the 30 following to 
draw lots as to the choice, except such as the Cor- 
poration shall think proper to except, and it is 
agreed that each butcher pay for his stall annually 
£ 3 in quarterly payments for the use of the cor- 
poration — the time to conmience from the first day 
of January inst., with the exception of two days 
for the June fair." The stalls as set forth in the 
minutes are twenty-four in number. John deGraff 
drew number 4, Christopher Hager 5, Andrew 
Lieibly 7, Solomon Kauffman 8, John Leibley, jun., 
12, John Yost 13, Phihp Metzger 14, Philip Russel 
15, Uriah Lambard 17, Jos. Hoover 18, Christopher 
Franciscus 20, John Leibly 22, Stephen Lutz 23, 
John Metzger 24. 

It will be seen from the foregoing that the trade 
of butchering must have been quite a profitable 
business, otherwise so many of the best citizens 
would not have been engaged in it. If it was 
profitable for them it must have been a money- 
maker for the burgesses also. 

What the impatient reader is anxious to know is 
when the present city hall was erected.^ It will be 
recalled, at a meeting of the corporation, January 1, 
1795, the opinion of the court was read, "It is con- 
cluded and agreed that the Commissioners of the 
county with the approbation of the Comt of General 
Sessions, acting in accordance with the Grand Jury's 
report, 'may erect a building for the pubhc offices 
on the present site of the market house, that is to 



DECISION TO BUILD CITY HALL 91 

say, on the east end of the same, the breadth of 
which building shall be twenty eight or thirty feet 
from the south to the north, and the length thereof, 
forty five or fifty feet from east to west.'" This 
confirms the measurement taken by the chronicler. 
An examination of the dividing fine proves beyond 
a doubt that both the market house and city hall 
were not built at the same year, or at least at the 
same time. But that both were erected and paid 
for out of county funds is not to be questioned. It 
could not have been built by the corporation unless 
they had gone a-borrowing. To iix the exact time 
the minutes of the burgesses fail to make entirely 
clear. However, along in 1801, the city hall was 
used by George Duffield, Controller General, or his 
deputy, Samuel Bryan, who, on refusing to pay rent, 
suit was brought against the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. 

What remains for the records to show is that from 
the time it was erected down to 1854 neither the 
burgesses nor councils ever held their meetings 
therein. During this more than half century, it 
was used for such offices as the County Commis- 
sioners had determined. Nor is there any proof 
that the room set apart for the convenience of the 
burgesses, and to which they claimed the right to 
occupy under the agreement between Blue Lodge 
and the corporation, was occupied. 

With a little patience, the reader may learn how 
the city of Lancaster came into undisputed possession 
of the much-disputed question of its ownership. 
It might be now stated, but it is better to wait and 



92 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

see what the council minutes may have to dis- 
close. 

To show how poor the borough authorities were, 
at least in pounds, shillings and pence, it needs only 
be stated that from 1742 down until 1812 when 
redress came in the shape of an Act of Assembly 
authorizing the burgesses to levy a tax on all real 
estate, the receipts were never more than fifty 
pounds in one year. And while this tax levy was 
but a trifle, it raised a storm of protest among 
property holders who had bought up whole tracts 
within the town's two miles square, not to be utilized 
in the opening up of streets but to hold the same for 
a sudden rise in value. 

However, at last the County Conunissioners did 
fill up and "pike" Center Square, after the bm-gesses 
had made their report as follows: "Resolved that, 
having viewed the premises, we are fully of the 
opinion that the complaint of the petitioners is 
well founded in fact; that the water which flows on 
all four sides of the court house for want of proper 
drainage, stagnates in the Square, giving rise to a 
public nuisance as well as a pubHc grievance." 

This was the verdict of the burgesses, but as the 
square on which the court house stood was claimed 
by the County Commissioners, who, being slow to 
act, and the authorities without the legal right or 
money, this "goose-pond" was no doubt highly 
enjoyed by the boys until the county began to get 
busy. How the lawyers managed to find their way 
into the court of justice without stilts, we have no 
means of knowing. 



DECISION TO BUILD CITY HALL 93 

To bear and forebear all kinds of inconveniences 
only goes to show that the dwellers of "Old Lancas- 
ter" were a patient, law-abiding people, willing to 
suffer to the limits of endurance anything and all 
things. Possibly they had more urgent matters to 
worry over from year to year to make both ends 
meet in trying to pay their annual ground rent. 

The reason no mention is made of compelling 
owners or tenants to shovel their pavements after a 
two-foot snow, may have been owing to the fact that 
brick pavements were few and far between except 
around the square, where all kind of business 
flourished. But how Uttle different in this twentieth 
century! Ordinances are passed requiring house- 
keepers to shovel the snow from their own side- 
walks, if not for their own convenience, at least for 
that of the traveling public. It has been said by a 
former mayor that "New Lancaster" has some of 
the worst pavements in the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. Being a judge of bricks, he might 
have added with equal force that many of these 
half-worn out bricks had come over on the "WiUiam 
and Sarah" as far back as the year 1709. But with 
all due respect for the feehngs of owners of side- 
walks, a certain respect should be shown for aged 
women and especially for dainty shoes with heels 
that have not as yet become so high as to keep the 
skirts of young girls from being sent to the laundry 
every day in the week, Sundays, of course, excepted. 

As for dust carried into the home of every well- 
regulated family, the responsibility rests equally 
between the city fathers and owners of automobiles 



94 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

who have to wear "goggles" to keep themselves 
from being blinded, or, what is worse, smothered by 
the volumes of dust turned up in their wake. 

Turning over a nearly two-century old page of 
the "Corporation Book:" "Resolved that the firing 
off of guns and pistols on New Year's night, or at 
any other time, has likewise become dangerous, all 
persons violating this decree, shall pay twenty 
shiUings for the use of the Corporation." 

To the credit of the pohce force of today, the 
chronicler can say that this one particular ordinance 
has been fully comphed with, for seldom do we hear 
of the firing off of a gun or pistol as during our boy- 
hood when pistols were carried and fired without 
fear of arrest. 

As to smoking on the streets and alleys, and 
against which the goodly burgesses had issued their 
edict to frighten boys, the modern day text-books 
of physiology and hygiene used in all schools under 
state control have served their purpose. 

Why smoking was more common among half- 
grown boys during the forties and fifties of the 
past century was owing to the fact that a "sixer" 
could be had for a big, round, copper cent! Cheap! 
Why, it was not until the government began to 
levy a tax on cigars and tobacco that the price went 
soaring skyward! Why the habit was not broken 
by the narrator from the standpoint of economy was 
to help the nation along in the raising of revenue. 
But even this is no good reason for twentieth- 
century boys to form the habit. Tobacco in any 
shape is not only a vicious but an extravagant habit. 



DECISION TO BUILD CITY HALL 95 

Don't begin it, my boys, and you will not have the 
trouble of stopping it when your bank account runs 
short I As chewing gum is indulged in by so many 
mothers, why give advice to girls? 

The reason the minutes of the burgesses make no 
mention of the "curfew" is owing to the fact that 
no public school system had been estabhshed at 
the time, with no "truant" officer in evidence in 
making boys toe the mark in attending school 
whether they wanted to or not! However, this is 
not meant to convey the impression that all young- 
sters were allowed to reach the age of discretion 
without at least a familiarity of the three "R's," — 
reading, writing and 'rithmetic — in the single and 
double "rule o' three," with spelling, at present, 
one of the lost arts. To have brought children up 
without the rudiments of an education would have 
been a criminal neglect of duty on the part of 
parents. The schoolmaster was abroad, if not in 
the home, at least in the church schools. But as 
the octogenarian author has other duties to per- 
form apart from that of turning schuylemaister, the 
story will be continued with the burgomasters' 
minutes to furnish the inspiration to complete the 
volume. If reflection be cast upon the present 
generation's fads and fancies, the hope is, they will 
be more forgiving when they reach their four-score. 
And so say all octogenarians! 



CHAPTER VIII 

Opinion of City Solicitor Slaymaker as to the 
Founder's Bequest 

In a hurried glance through one of the council- 
manic books of 1847, the searcher was delighted to 
find reference to the same troublesome question as 
to the right and title of city hall which had been 
erected out of money appropriated by the county. 

The following resolution offered by a member 
of Select Council was read and concmred in by the 
common branch: "Resolved, that the City Solicitor 
be instructed to inquire into the ownership of city 
hall, and to ascertain on what pretext the County 
still occupies it with their ofl&ces?" 

At the next meeting the following opinion was 
rendered, "On the 16 of May, 1730, three lots of 
ground in the town of Lancaster were granted by 
James Hamilton in trust; the first for the use of the 
county whereon to erect a com^t house, the second 
for a jail, and the third, containing one hundred and 
twenty feet square, for the erection, keeping and 
holding a market for the ease and convenience of 
the inhabitants thereof, and others who have oc- 
casion to resort thither. 

"On the first day of January, A. D. 1795, it was 
agreed by the officers of the Corporation, with the 
approval of the Court of General Sessions, that 

96 



CITY SOLICITOR'S OPINION ON BEQUEST 97 

the county may erect a building for the use of the 
pubhc offices on the present site of the market house 
to extend twenty-eight to thirty feet from south 
to north, and forty-five to fifty feet from east to 
west. In accordance with this agreement, a building 
for county offices was erected and has continued in 
use for these purposes up to the present time [1847]. 

"Upon this state of facts two questions arise — 
First, does the license of the Corporation of 1795 to 
the county to build on the market-house space bind 
the pubhc? And if it does not? Second, will oc- 
cupancy for any length of time give the county a 
right to the ground covered by its offices, as against 
the public? 

"The grant of the lot is declared to be for a 
specific prupose of arching, keeping and holding a 
market: The intention of the grantor is here dis- 
tinctly expressed, and all rights proven or exercised 
under the grant must be in strict accordance with 
its provisions. 

"But further — the conveyance is stated is to be 
for the benefit not only for the city but also for 
others who may have occasion to resort to the 
market; thus dedicating the subject-matter of the 
grant to the use of the pubhc. The Corporation 
has here not an absolute, but merely a qualified 
property right for a specific purpose; it is in fact 
no more than a trustee for the use of the pubhc in 
general; none of its rights therefore with reference 
to this property (meaning the city hall) would be 
valid unless they were done in pursuance of the 
purposes of the grant — nor otherwise could they be 



98 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

binding upon its trust — the public. If any part of 
the lot could be appropriated to any other use than 
that specified in the grant, by a parity of reasoning, 
so also might the whole, and to any other use what- 
soever; and thus the intention of the grantor be 
frustrated and the benefit to the pubhc entirely lost. 

"The pubhc to which use this property is dedi- 
cated is not the pubhc of one generation, but of 
each generation successively as it makes its appear- 
ance on the stage of action, and no fraudulent, 
improvident or misconceived action on the part of 
the pubhc or its officers at any particular period 
can be permitted to diminish or destroy the right 
of the future public. If this reasoning be correct 
then it is clear that the hcense by the Burgesses in 
1795 could give the county no right to erect its 
buildings on the Square, set apart for the market 
house. 

"It then only remains for us to inquire how the 
rights of the parties are affected by the lapse of time. 
With regard to private rights the lapse of time may 
be conclusive. The pubhc interests require that 
there should be an end of strife, and when an indi- 
vidual with the strong, natural stimulus to action 
of an immediate personal interest neglects for a long 
space of time to assert its rights, the law in many 
instances presumes for the sake of peace that he 
has parted with those rights. As regards the pubhc, 
however, no such presumption should with any 
propriety have place. 

"The public is an aggregation of individuals, no 
one of whom usually conceives himself to have in 



CITY SOLICITOR'S OPINION ON BEQUEST 99 

the common property such a direct interest as all 
experience proves is alone sufficient to stimulate 
men to active and earnest efforts. Gradual and 
sHght encroachment on pubhc rights therefore rarely 
attracts attention, particularly if no special incon- 
venience is the immediate result. And thus the 
pubhc, did the lapse of time furnish a bar to its 
claim, would find the circle of its rights steadily 
contracting until at length not a vestige of those 
rights would remain. 

"To avoid such mischief as this, the Supreme 
Court has decided in a number of instances that the 
presumption does not arise against the public, and 
that the grant of a part of a street or square will not 
be presumed so as bar an indictment for a nuisance. 
In the case under consideration no such presumption 
can be admitted. Upon the title as set forth in the 
Corporation Book, depends all the rights with 
reference to the property in question. If the officers 
of the corporation had the authority to dispose of 
the market square for any other purpose than that 
mentioned in the original grant, then the county 
had the vahd right to the space occupied by its 
offices. If however, as we suppose, those officers 
had no such right or authority, then the county 
buildings are a pubhc nuisance and all parties 
occupying them are hable to indictment. 

"A. Slaymaker, Solicitor for the city,'' 

As little understood as the above-mentioned 
opinion may be by the public at large, it is quoted 
to show that even down to the year 1847 when the 
matter came up in councils, the present city hall 



100 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

had proved a bone of contention as to its ownership. 
As the reader shall learn, down until the year 1854 
it was occupied by county and state officials, not 
to overlook the fact that a decade previous councils 
had tried to get possession of it, and which they 
finally did, by the right of purchase from the county, 
as shall be made clear in due time. 

Allowing this question to rest temporarily, it was 
at a meeting of the burgesses, October 6, 1798, 
that an act, passed by the General Assembly for a 
"Nightly Watch," came before said body for action. 
As many of its provisions are worth reading, a few 
may be quoted. 

"It is enacted by the authority aforesaid that the 
Burgesses shall have power to set up a number of 
lamps in such parts of the highways, streets and 
pubhc alleys as to them shall seem to be expedient, 
and to contract with any person or persons for the 
fighting, trinaming, supplying and maintaining the 
same. And fikewise to employ any number of 
watchmen at such reasonable wages as shall be found 
expedient. Also, that these watchmen shall use 
their best endeavors to prevent fires, murders, 
burglaries, robberies, and other outrages and dis- 
orders within the Borough. And to that end, they 
shall apprehend all suspicious persons. And further, 
that if any minor, bound-servant, apprentice, negro, 
slave, or mulatto to be apprehended, he shaU be 
sent to prison for any such length of time, not 
exceeding ten days, unless parents, guardians or 
mistress of such offender pay the damages aforesaid." 



CITY SOLICITOR'S OPINION ON BEQUEST 101 

The mention of apprentice, "slave," or bound- 
servants may sound strange in the ears of people 
living in this twentieth century, and yet during 
those early days, it was not unusual to see advertise- 
ments hke the following: 

"A White Negro — Fifty Dollars Reward: 

"He is white as any man; but is a slave for life; 
his hair is red, but turned up before with a nice 
cm"l, has blue eyes, is a little cross-eyed, and but for 
this, would be very Hkely; is 5 feet two inches high, 
about twenty years old; had on and took with him, 
a Hght Summer coat of cotton, striped blue, swan- 
down vest." He was further described by the 
owner in the same characteristic way as such notices 
usually ran. Nor were slaves the only ones held in 
bondage; bound white boys, when apprenticed to a 
trade, were compelled to serve their time, usually 
from three to four years, and as for girls, few found 
employment like those of today, many of whom 
are to be found holding responsible positions in aU 
departments of business. And who can say that 
the girls of "New Lancaster" are not making their 
boy friends stand up and take notice that they have 
come by their own both in the family and in the 
financial, social and commercial world? 

There was a time, as far back as 1786, when 
WiUiam Henry, after holding numerous positions 
of trust, became county treasurer of Lancaster 
County, with his residence at the corner of Moravian 
and Market place. After his demise, his widow, 
Ann, continued to fill out his unexpired term. In 



102 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

many respects she was a remarkable woman, and 
the first that ever held either a city or county office. 
After raising a family of thirteen children, in 1798 
she was laid beside her husband in the old Moravian 
graveyard. 

However, there was one other Ann, the wife of 
George Moore, who held the position of postmaster 
until his death in 1798 when his widow, Ann, con- 
tinued to the year 1809. Following came Mary 
Dickson, as postmistress in 1828, holding it until 
1850. On January 15, 1872, Mrs. Ellen H. Hager 
filled out the unexpired term of her husband, H. W. 
Hager. At the proper place the names of the post- 
masters, twenty-two in number, may be given, 
running from 1790 down to the present incmnbent's 
appointment. 

As will be seen from the foregoing, from the year 
1786 to this year 1917, only three women held 
public office within the city of Lancaster. It has 
not been that they were not qualified, poHte and 
accommodating. But, more of the women of Lan- 
caster as the story progresses. 

As has been referred to, it was not until 1798 
that an act was passed by the General Assembly of 
the Commonwealth, empowering the burgesses to 
set up lamps on the streets and alleys of the borough. 
Imagine, if you can, dear, disgruntled reader, of 
how, for nearly a half century, the streets of "Old 
Lancaster" were dark, except on moonlight nights. 
As there was no "Weather Bureau" to tell when the 
nights were to be clear or when cloudy, the people 
had to take their chances of getting to their homes 
as best they could. Plenty of those old in years 



CITY SOLICITOR'S OPINION ON BEQUEST 103 

can recall when, during moonlight nights, economy 
was practiced in the saving of either oil or gas. 

As it is with the hmnan most readers aire interested, 
special reference shall be made to the old stone jail 
which stood at the corner of Prince and West King 
Streets until its removal along about the year 1850. 

And here it can be said that, although maybe 
deserving, the chronicler was never compelled to do 
"time" within its gloomy walls. However, there 
was one we happened to know, who was sentenced 
by Squire Van Camp for six months for some trifling 
offense. Taking pity on the poor fellow, at times 
we could see him standing looking through the bars. 
Unthreading one of his woolen socks, down he would 
drop the yarn, with note pleading for some of 
Mammy Gruel's sugar cakes and other goodies. 
Finding the yarn not strong enough, to the end of the 
cord we would tie a piece of kite string. This, when 
drawn up with a ginger-horse, maybe, at the end, 
would at times be seen by the good-natured jailor, 
who only smiled one of his pleasant smiles, recalhng, 
as he doubtless did, how he had been a boy once 
upon a time himself. 

Mention of kite string leads the narrator to ask 
all twentieth-century boys what have become of 
kites? Their reply will no doubt be that they have 
been ruled out by the many telegraph wires strung 
all over the town. Again, why do not boys play 
"shinny," town or corner ball any more? During 
our boyhood, the best exercise was in playing hop- 
scotch, mummy depeg, and other games now almost 
forgotten. Pitching pennies, a species of gambling, 



104 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

was a game usually practiced in an alley with no 
constable around. This game lasted until big 
coppers went out of use. And it is well for the boys 
they did, as they led to other gambling devices of 
which the town was full to overflowing during fair 
week, circus days, Whitmonday, April first, with the 
thimble-rigger at all times in evidence in roping into 
his drag net the unsophisticated country youngster, 
ever ready to beat the expert at his own game. 
However, whether boys are getting more out of hfe 
with so much to be seen and heard during these days, 
we have no means of knowing. In the olden times, 
boys were boys until they had reached their voting 
age; today, they pass as men at seventeen. 

In repeated mention of the old jail, it must not 
be forgotten that on the site where it stood was 
erected Fulton Hall in honor of Robert Fulton 
who ran his first paddle-wheel steamboat on the 
Conestoga near by where yet stands the residence 
of the great patriot, General Hand who, as chief 
burgess wrote the letter to Senators and Repre- 
sentatives of the United States as far back as 1789. 

Old Fulton Hall! Only those well along in years 
can recall the fairs held therein by the women of 
Lancaster during the war of the sixties! Oh! there 
is nothing like a war to bring to the fore woman's 
inherent quahties of soul, mind and body. That 
same womanly spirit dominant during Revolutionary 
times, bubbled forth during the dark days of the 
Civil War. Nor has it subsided in these trying days. 
With the passing of mothers and grandmothers, 
we have their granddaughters, members of the "Red 



CITY SOLICITOR'S OPINION ON BEQUEST 105 

Cross" and other organizations, each in its own way 
ready to sustain the President of the United States 
in his laudable ambition to maintain the rights of 
all citizens of whatever nationahty. 

Old Fulton Hall ! It is no more as we once knew it. 
Known as the Fulton Opera House, so completely 
has it undergone change as scarcely to be recognized 
from what it was when first erected more than 
sixty years ago by Christopher Hager & Son. 

And now, to what the pages of the "Corporation 
Book" may yet have to disclose. 



CHAPTER IX 
The Establishing of a Bank in Lancaster 

For sixty years, from 1742 down to 1803, the 
borough of Lancaster was without a bank! And 
it was not until at a meeting of the burgesses the 
same year, that the following resolution was offered 
and passed by councils: "Whereas, The estabhsh- 
ment of a bank in the Borough of Lancaster is con- 
sidered not to be contrary to the interests of its 
inhabitants, but rather expected to be promotive of 
the inland trade of this place and vicinity; it is 
therefore 

"Resolved, That the President, Directors and 
Company of the Bank of Pennsylvania be, and are 
hereby permitted and invited to estabhsh a branch 
of the said bank in the Borough, in conformity to 
the Act of Assembly incorporating the subscribers 
to the same, in case the said president and directors 
should think proper to do so." 

On May 18, 1803, the bank was opened in the 
building which still stands on the northeast corner 
of West King and Prince Streets. The directors, 
twelve in number, were elected, with Adam Reigart, 
Jr., as president, and James Houston as cashier. 

This branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania located 
in Philadelphia managed to weather the storm until 
about 1811, when failure of the larger brought failure 

106 



ESTABLISHING A BANK IN LANCASTER 107 

to the smaller banking institution, compelling it to 
close its doors. However, twenty years before the 
branch Bank of Pennsylvania went into Hquidation, 
along in the year 1810, came what is known at the 
present day as The Farmers Trust Company, and 
what a long, uninterrupted career of prosperity it 
has had during the past one hundred and seven 
years. During times of panics and other financial 
upheavals, it has managed to weather the financial 
storms. At the time when the Farmers' Bank was 
chartered, the town was still a borough with a 
population of a little more than five thousand 
inhabitants. Nor were they then all of one nation- 
ality. It was in many respects a heterogeneous 
mixture of Engfish, Germans, Irish, Scotch-Irish, 
Welsh, Quakers, French Huguenots and a sprinkling 
of negroes. As has aheady been shown from Chief 
Burgess Hand's letter, this community was the 
second largest in Pennsylvania, and the largest in- 
land town in the United States. 

One is given to wondering how, for more than 
half a century, the public managed to transact 
business, the borough being nearly seventy miles 
from the townstead Philadelphia. Money, some 
genuine, other spurious, was kept securely hidden 
away in secluded places. Of course, there were 
what might be called "individual bankers," known 
today as "curbstone brokers," who accepted money 
from farmers and others at a low rate, and put it 
out to borrowers who were as numerous then as in 
this much later epoch, considering the difi'erence in 
time. 



108 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

There must have been, away back in the early 
days, much antipathy among money-lenders against 
the first bank. Nor had it subsided down to a time 
within the recollection of the old-time present-day 
bankers. It is not over a half century when, on 
April first, farmers, instead of depositing their 
money and paying their debts with checks, would 
crowd the taverns and stairways on which they 
would transact their business. And who can say 
that banking in "New Lancaster" has not made 
much progress during the past century with a 
half dozen banks, and almost as many trust com- 
panies all on a safe foundation and, it is to be hoped, 
will so continue. 

Not only have city people placed their trust in 
banks, but the rural population as well, considering 
that almost every town in the county has its bank, 
with dividend coming to the investor semi-annually. 

Although the burgesses, during their seventy-six 
years of rule, had occasion every now and then to 
summon the butchers, breadbakers, chapmen and 
others before them for wrong-doing, the records 
also contain one charge against the Pennsylvania 
Legislature ! It will be recalled that this state repre- 
sentative body held its sessions in the court house 
from 1799 to 1812. As the "Corporation Book" 
shows, this distinguished assembly had gone their 
way to Harrisburg without first having paid five 
pounds rent for the use of a ten-plate wood stove 
in the court house. So annoyed were the burgesses 
over the Legislature's neglect to pay the five pounds 
overdue, as to cause the clerk to present a bill to 





GEORGE ROSS MANSION IN COLONIAL TIMES 



110 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"Mattheus Huston, Esquire, of the Assembly, with 
instructions that if the amount be not paid promptly, 
to bring suit against the Commonwealth of Penn- 
sylvania!" 

Thinking possibly that the ten-plate wood stove 
might have been stored away on the loft of city 
hall by the janitor, every effort has been made by 
the chronicler to locate it, but without success. 
However, it might be well for every descendant of 
this Legislative body, to make diligent search for 
this memento of other days. The chances are it 
will still turn up in time for the incoming Centennial. 
It would add much to the occasion, provided it was 
not doing service in the old capitol building at the 
time it went up in smoke. However, might it not 
be well for councils to authorize our accomplished 
young city sohcitor to bring suit against the next 
Legislature for the j&ve pounds at the rate of six 
per cent, compound interest, dating from the year 
1799 to the present year 1917.^ 

Mention of fires, it was along in the year 1812, 
that one fire followed another with stables, barns 
and other buildings faUing prey to the flames. 
Rewards were offered for the arrest and conviction 
of the incendiary or incendiaries, but without 
success. At last a town meeting was held at the 
court house, at which it was "Resolved that all 
able-bodied men of the borough be compelled to 
organize themselves into a patrol to parade the 
streets at all hours of the night." 

Like the faithful historian who wrote the Knicker- 
bocker History of New Amsterdam, the chronicler 



ESTABLISHING A BANK IN LANCASTER 111 

must not be taken too seriously, if occasionally he 
is inclined to make merry over some of the rulings 
of the burgesses. And yet, here is what is set forth 
in their minutes: "It shall be the duty of each 
Captain of his ward to keep his company constantly 
on the march during nights on the lookout for all 
suspicious characters, incendiaries and other nightly 
prowlers, and who are to be locked in the old stone 
jail unless they can give a good account of them- 
selves." 

One newspaper account of that early day has 
this to say of the many uncalled-for arrests made 
during the first night of the patrol on the march in 
search for all suspicious characters. It seems that 
the captain, after having imbibed too many brandy- 
punches, being unable to distinguish members of this 
or that lodge homeward bound, had committed the 
unpardonable mistake of arresting the Grand Master 
of Blue Lodge, No. 43, in stepping out of the room 
over the market house, at present used for city pur- 
poses. This flagrant violation of decorum brought 
a speedy end of the nightly patrol. 

Already mention has been made that, with one 
exception, no property tax was laid on real estate 
until the year 1812, under Act of Assembly. This 
property tax of three thousand dollars was levied 
on all land within the borough's two miles square 
for the repair of the streets within the built-up 
portion. How far north, south, east and west the 
built-up portion extended, can only be approximately 
stated. However, what the minutes show is that 
large sections of unimproved land within the town's 
corporate Hmits had been purchased from the 



112 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

Hamilton agent on the ground-land plan in antici- 
pation of a rise in value. As a result, when taxation 
came, many of these land owners became panic- 
stricken, leading to hard times for the dwellers of 
"Old Lancaster." 

With this came the War of 1812 with its dis- 
heartening consequences. It was at a town meeting 
that a very large and respectable number of citizens 
of the borough convened at the court house, and 
where the following preamble and resolutions were 
unanimously adopted: 

"Whereas, it appears by the General Orders of 
the Governor of Pennsylvania that the Capitol of 
the United States has been destroyed by a haughty 
and powerful enemy, who threatens the metropolis 
of a sister state, and whose conduct warrants an 
opinion that an attack is also meditated on the 
shores of the Delaware. And whereas, his Excellency 
has under these circumstances thought proper to 
direct that the Mihtia generally within the eastern 
counties of Pennsylvania should be immediately 
called into active service: and whereas, it is the 
duty of every American who regards the safety and 
happiness of his Country, at such an alarming crisis 
to aid and assist in bringing forth the physical force 
of the people. Therefore 

"Resolved, that it be recommended to the free, 
able-bodied citizens of our borough and county 
particularly to form themselves into Volunteer 
Companies as expeditiously as possible, to march 
at a moment's warning to such points where their 
services may be most wanted: 



ESTABLISHING A BANK IN LANCASTER 113 

"Resolved, That the Volunteer Companies of 
this borough, commanded by WiUiam Hamilton and 
George Hambright be authorized to procure every 
necessary article of Camp Equipage without delay. 
And we who are here present authorize the Cor- 
poration to borrow $2,000 to be reimbursed by the 
Commonwealth, upon the production of proper 
vouchers. 

"Resolved, That the citizens of Lancaster who 
are exempt from Military duty, or others who can- 
not leave home, will form themselves into associa- 
tions for the safety of the place and well-being of 
the famihes of those who have stepped out in defence 
of our beloved country, during their absence. 

"Resolved, That a committee be appointed for 
each ward of the borough to collect such military 
apparatus as may assist the volunteers to march to 
Baltimore forthwith, such as rifles, powderhorns, 
knapsacks, blankets and other articles." 

While much has been omitted, enough has been 
quoted to show the excited condition of the five 
thousand inhabitants in hourly fear that the British 
might be working their way up the Conestoga. As 
the minutes further show, these companies reached 
the outskirts of Baltimore to find, to their great 
delight, that the British warships had disappeared, 
after burning the capitol at Washington. 

Mark what followed at a meeting of the burgesses 
in March, 1814: "To the Court and Grand Jury: 
The Burgesses beg leave to show that when our 
country was invaded by the enemy, the volunteers 
that marched to do battle, being in need of supplies; 



114 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

these were furnished by the Corporation, amounting 
to $480. As this amount could not be paid by the 
State or the United States Government, and the 
Corporation having but a small income, their funds 
being exhausted, they therefore solicit the aid of the 
county in reimbursing the Corporation for the 
expense incurred." Whether the corporation was 
ever reimbursed by either the State or the United 
States, no mention is made in the burgesses' pro- 
ceedings. 

If more than ordinary space has been given to the 
foregoing episode, it is to show how history repeats 
itself. 

At the time the capitol at Washington was burned 
there was no telegraph nor telephone to waft the 
news to the quiet town of Lancaster. Such news as 
came from even the Governor had to be carried on 
horseback. 

Many Uving at the present day can recall what 
happened preceding the battle of Gettysburg, when 
reports reached Lancaster that Lee's army was 
approaching our city. 

And now, with a few additional facts gathered 
from the "Corporation Book" Part Second will 
follow. 

At the house of William Cooper were assembled 
"on the 13th of May, 1818, Samuel Carpenter, 
Chief Burgess, John Reitzel, Burgess, and by their 
side, Peter Reed, Henry Keffer, David R. Barton, 
George Buengard, WilHam Kirkpatrick, assistants." 

Following is what actually occurred— " Whereas, 
in and by an act of Assembly of the Commonwealth 



ESTABLISHING A BANK IN LANCASTER 115 

of Pennsylvania, entitled an act to incorporate the 
city of Lancaster, passed the twentieth of March, 
1818, the Burgesses and their assistants agreeably 
to the provisions of said act, enjoining them to 
hold an election on the second Tuesday of May, 
being the twelfth of this instant for the choosing 
by ballot of fifteen persons quahfied to serve as 
members of the House of Representatives, to be 
members of Common Councils, and nine persons 
qualified to serve as Senators of the Commonwealth, 
to be members of Select Councils — The Burgesses 
having given due notice to the citizens and inhabi- 
tants of Lancaster in the several newspapers printed 
in the town at the time and place of holding said 
election. And having duly attended to their duties, 
on the closing of the poles and counting the votes, 
the following gentlemen were elected members of 
Common and Select Councils of the city of Lan- 
caster, namely: 

Common Councils 

Adam Reigart Ingham Wood 

Jeremiah Moser John Reynolds 

Jacob Shearer Philip Heitshu 

George Musser John Weaver 

Jacob Duchman John Bomberger 

Jacob Eicholtz Joseph T. Smith 

George Buengard John Christ 
Luke Brown 

Select Councils 

John Hubley Samuel Humes 

Robert Coleman William Jenkins 



116 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

William Kirkpatrick Samuel Slaymaker 

John F. Steimnan Jacob Lemmon 

William Dickson 
"Testified to by the Corporation by the returns 
filed in the proper office, dated May 13, 1818. 

"Signed — Samuel Carpenter 
John Reitzel 
Burgesses, acting as inspectors 
"Peter Reed 
Wm Kirkpatrick 
George Buengard 
Assistant Burgesses, acting as judges 
"Attest, George Weitzel, Town Clerk.'' 
Having performed their duties in accordance with 
the Act of Assembly, in the change of the borough 
into a city, this, the last meeting of burgesses, 
ended, in so far as their minutes show, without any 
display of feeling outwardly at least. What their 
inward thoughts were can only be imagined. For 
seventy-six years, from August 13, 1742, down to 
1818, these duly constituted men of public affairs 
had met as occasion required at the home of one of 
their number. This place of meeting, as the "Cor- 
poration Book" shows, was usually at the house of 
one Jacob Frey. Indeed, so frequently has the name 
Jacob Frey been mentioned, running down through 
more than seven decades, as to lead the narrator to 
the opinion that the first Jacob Frey must have been 
followed by other sons, so on down through suc- 
ceeding years. This well-known family name is yet 
to be found in the city directory. 
But as we glance over the fist of distinguished 



ESTABLISHING A BANK IN LANCASTER 117 

burgesses and assistants, the surprise is how few of 
their descendants are hving at the present day. 
It is only proper then that homage be paid their 
memory at the incoming of the Centennial, marking 
the closing of the past one hundred years, in laying 
out plans in starting the new century on its future 
career of unexampled prosperity. And as we glance 
back in imagination over the seventy-six years, it 
seems more like a dream than a reality. 

However, with the passing of the burgesses, only 
the first part of the narrative has been written: 
what is to follow needs to be gathered from the 
councihnanic records. What these will have to show 
remains for the narrator to disclose, provided these 
musty minute books can be found and give up their 
contents, not so much for any gratification it may 
afford the writer, as for the lasting good afforded in 
setting before the inhabitants of "New Lancaster" 
the story of the people of "Old Lancaster." And 
so, with the names of the burgesses and their as- 
sistants, we enter upon Part Second of the narrative. 
But, in entering upon what is to follow, it will never 
do to become forgetful that with all we have, all 
we are and can ever hope to be as a city, too much 
praise cannot be given to the pioneers who, as far 
back as 1730, laid the foundation good and strong 
for the generations which have followed. Would 
that some of these burgomasters could have witnessed 
quite recently the grandest martial outpouring of pa- 
triotism "New Lancaster" has ever seen. It would 
have made their hearts throb with inward joy to have 
looked upon such a pageant as paraded the streets on 



118 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

this first of May evening of 1917. It only goes to 
show that the spirit of Revolutionary times is still 
dominant among all classes of Lancastrians who have 
the love of country at heart. The same spirit which 
pervaded the people of "Old Lancaster" in 1776, 
and later, 1812 and in 1861, has become even more 
intensified with one determination, to uphold the 
Stars and Stripes of the same old flag that waved 
over this city in years gone by. 

Few know that in 1795 the flag had fifteen stripes 
and the same number of stars; and it was not until 
after Vermont and Kentucky had been admitted 
that this emblem was made to conform to its present 
size of thirteen stripes and now with forty-eight 
stars. Imagine a flag with forty-eight stripes! 
Why, there is not a patriotic boy large or strong 
enough to carry it in parade. 

And as a fitting closing of the administration of 
the burgesses and their assistants, before entering 
on Part Second of the narrative, their names shall 
be given in order that the present generation may 
trace their ancestry back to those early, halcyon 
days when the making of "New Lancaster" began. 
To avoid duplicating, no names shall be repeated. 
The first are the names of the chief burgesses: 

Thomas Cookson, John Dehuff, Adam Simon 
Kuhn, Samuel Boude, John Hobson, James Bick- 
ham, WilHam Bausman, James Burd, Michael 
Hubley, James Ralffe, William Atlee, Henry Dehuff, 
Paul Zantzinger, Wilham Parr, Jacob Reigart, 
Henry Bering, Edward Hand, Adam Reigart, John 
Miller, William Reichenbach, Frederick Steinman, 



ESTABLISHING A BANK IN LANCASTER 119 

John Light, John Eberman, John Messencop, 
Samuel Carpenter. 

Following are the names of burgesses: Sebastian 
Graff, James Webb, Peter Warrall, Luddwig Stone, 
Isaac Whitlelock, Phihp Lenhere, Bernard Hubley, 
Michael Hubley, William Henry, Christian Voght, 
William Hamilton, Caleb Cope, Casper Shaffner, 
Charles Hall, George Ross, Jacob Kaegy, Frederick 
Kuhn, James Jacks, Adam Wilhehn, John Hubley, 
John Roberts, John Bausman, Philip Diffenderfer, 
Hemy Pinkerton, Leonard Eicholtz, John Hoff, 
John ReitzeL During the seventy-six years there 
were two hundred and forty-eight assistants. These 
from time to time must have comprised the leading 
citizens of the borough. 




OLD JAIL, CORNER WEST KING AND PRINCE STREETS 




MODERN JAIL AS IT STOOD ABOUT 1853 



PART II 



CHAPTER X 



Lancaster a City After Seventy-Six Years of 
Burgess Rule 

For the borough to throw off the robe in which 
it had been wrapped for seventy-six years, eventually 
to become a full-fledged municipality under a more 
Uberal charter, must have been the opening up of 
possibilities such as the goodly inhabitants of the 
townstead had never before witnessed. Then, for 
the nine select and fifteen common councilmen to 
be designated "senators and representatives" could 
not otherwise than add dignity to their proceedings. 
It is to be regretted that these "city fathers" were 
not long to be known as such in their corporate 
capacity. And as for the burgesses, the great 
majority were relegated to private fife. 

What may strike the twentieth-century reader as 
pecuhar is that no chief magistrate was voted for 
at the time the councilmen were elected; the reason 
is not difficult to explain. As Governor Snyder 
had the appointing power under the new charter, 
he had reserved the right to appoint any reputable 
citizen whom the inhabitants desired, and this 
attorney-at-law turned out to be John Passmore of 

10 121 



122 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

Quaker ancestry, but with no great leaning toward 
the Quakers as a society. How many were residents 
of the city at the time the change was made the 
records fail to mention, largely for the reason that 
the great majority of what were known as " Friends " 
had settled in Chester County a century or more 
before for reasons best known to themselves. 

How the legally disposed John Passmore happened 
to locate so far from his Quaker friends, history fails 
to set forth with any degree of accuracy. 

What is known is that, after serving one term by 
appointment, he was elected by councils in con- 
vention assembled for another year at the princely 
salary of two hundred dollars per annum! This at 
the time was considered ample, in view of the fact 
that the burgesses and their assistants had served 
their constituents during a period of seventy-six 
years for the honor alone. 

During those early times there was more in the 
honor of the office than in the emoluments accruing 
therefrom. In fact, to walk the streets of the 
metropolis and be able to say, "I am the Honorable 
John Passmore, the first mayor of Lancaster," 
must have carried with it a sort of inexpressible 
dignity since unknown to other chief magistrates 
who valued the salary more than the honor. How- 
ever, Mayor Passmore must have been a jolly good 
fellow as most fat men usually are, with so much 
weight, physically speaking, to carry. Somewhat 
eccentric, he could crack a joke, as is illustrated by 
the following. Strolhng into his office, young 
James Buchanan, later President of the United 



LANCASTER A CITY 123 

States, took a book from the case, and, before 
departing, allowed it to remain open on the desk. 
Following him to the door, the weighty John, in his 
humorous way, called, "Jim, come back and put 
that book where you found it ! " And back he came 
and into the case went the volume. Pretty good 
advice, we have overheard more than one other 
attorney declare, on finding his office turned into a 
junk shop. 

We have no means of knowing how he dressed. 
No doubt in keeping with other professional gentle- 
men of the times: "swallow tail," stand-up collar, 
cravat, a black silk neckerchief, rolled twice around 
the neck, forming of that day the first step away 
from the older "stock collar" custom. 

Whether this our first mayor at all times wore a 
high silk hat or only on state occasions, is another 
puzzler for the chronicler. But of one thing there 
is little room for doubt, it being a custom for all 
gentlemen to wear black silk hats! Of course, being 
allied with the Quakers, he might have worn a head- 
gear in keeping with his Quaker ancestry. 

Being an inveterate smoker, and having forgotten 
the ordinance the burgomasters had passed against 
smoking on the public streets. Mayor Passmore 
fined himself twenty shillings, no doubt as an ex- 
ample for other users of the weed. As tobacco 
chewing was more common than it is today, we have 
no means of knowing whether at the time this, the 
city's first mayor, fined himself for expectorating on 
the sidewalk. The probabihty is he had allowed 
the ordinance to become a dead letter, and a dead 



124 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

letter it has been down to the present day, except 
on the part of those who usually obey the laws, 
not so much from compulsion as from a desire to 
prove themselves good, law-abiding citizens! It has 
been said that a much later mayor fined his own 
father for not obeying the ordinance in neglecting 
to remove the snow from his own sidewalk. Why 
examples have not been made of other violators 
of city ordinances, with the possible exception of 
automobile speeders, is not for the chronicler to 
determine. 

Tradition, at most times an uncertain quantity, 
says that John Passmore weighed on the town 
scales four hundred and eighty and a half pounds 
avoirdupois, and when he departed this life in 1827, 
at the age of fifty-five, at the northwest corner of 
Orange and Shippen, there was not a catafalque 
large or strong enough to convey his remains to 
their last resting place. Nor were they considered 
of so much importance as to keep the sexton up 
nightly to prevent the town's medical students 
from carrying them off for experimental purposes — 
maybe, on account of their weight. 

But by way of curiosity, what has become of the 
"sun-dial" that used to hang suspended over the 
door of his famous residence? It had its use, but 
only during hours when the sun shone, especially in 
the winter time. As to the munber of pall-bearers 
with crepe on the left arm, they were no doubt in 
proportion to the town's population. However, 
this being an old-time custom, no further reference 
to it shall be made concerning people's cherished 



LANCASTER A CITY 125 

rights of the present day to conduct funerals to 
suit themselves, with as many honorary pall-bearers 
as may suit their convenience. 

In many respects his honor took things easy, as 
many of his successors have since done. But 
with all their easy-going ways not a single one of 
the other twenty-four mayors who have since held 
office, has followed John Passmore in rotundity! 
Why this has been, the narrator has not been able 
to discover from the records of the mayor's office. 
It is not that they have not been in the enjoy- 
ment of the many good things sent in by their 
nimaerous friends in expectation of a street to be 
repaired, or an invitation to attend an annual 
''blow-out" such as shall be shown to have been 
extended councilmen on a journey down through 
the canal to the Susquehanna on the packet the 
"Edward Coleman." 

Leaving Mayor Passmore to practice his pro- 
fession at the close of his two years as chief magis- 
trate, in glancing back over the minutes of the 
burgesses, no mention is anywhere made that the 
townspeople had met at the court house square 
with brass band to celebrate the passing of the old 
dispensation, and the incoming of the newer order 
of municipal hfe. Nor is there anything to show 
that the biugesses and their assistants had unwill- 
ingly parted with responsibihties such as they 
must have known were sure to follow their suc- 
cessors in office, the nine select and fifteen common 
councilmen. What their minutes show and what 
they were proud of, was that they had left a clean 



126 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

balance sheet with no bad debts to be collected. 
This economy had been practiced rehgiously from 
1742 down to 1818. 

But no sooner had the borough become a city 
than politics as a science began to permeate all 
classes with political ambitions to gratify. Candi- 
dates there were for this or that ofiBce. Nor were 
they confined to one party, as the following circular 
and letter testify. Framed and in possession of 
Attorney Ehner Miller, both circular and missive 
show that the question of conscience did not enter 
into conditions as a disturbing factor. To win the 
golden prize was sufficient unto the evil thereof. 
We think we know how rejoiced some of the present- 
day politicians may feel that "graft" in a certain 
way had its beginning a century ago. As the parties 
are no longer here in the flesh, there is not any danger 
of the chronicler being prosecuted for libel. And 
now, give close attention to what is herein set forth: 

"Lancaster, October 18, 1818. 

" To The Free And Independent Voters Of The City 

And County Of Lancaster. 
''Fellow-Citizens and Neighbors: 

"Pursuant to previous notice given, we are again 
assembled for the purpose of concerting measures 
necessary to ensure the most cordial support to 
Messers Frederick Hambright and Wm. B. Ross, 
the persons nominated and taken was for the office 
of Sheriff, by a large respectable meeting of our 
friends, at the house of Mr. John Hatz, Innkeeper, 
in the City of Lancaster, on Wednesday evening, 



LANCASTER A CITY 127 

the 19 inst., in opposition to those settled on the 
Federal Ticket on the same day at the house of 
Mr. John Bachman. 

"In all elections particularly by officers, whose 
duties are entirely ministerial, it is conceived that 
we should divest ourselves of all party considera- 
tions, and unite in favor of those, who are most 
characterised by their patriotism — their talents, and 
just claims. 

"The people have too long suffered themselves to 
be the dupes of designing and party men: The result 
of the last sheriff's election conclusively demonstrates 
the disposition of an enlightened people, to patronize 
those, who have rendered essential services to our 
country, and to pay a just tribute to worth and 
merit, unshakled by party prejudices, or local 
jealousies — and that too, at that time, in opposition 
to the settled tickets of both parties. 

"Township meetings are so partially attended, 
that the sense of the people can never be correctly 
ascertained by the choice of their Delegates. 

"It is a well known fact, that in many of them, 
not one fifth of those entitled to vote, attended; yet, 
we are called upon to support men thus nominated 
by a few individuals, — direct opposition to what we 
conceive to be the will of the majority. 

"'Rotation in Office,' has always been acknowl- 
edged to be one of the fundamental principles of a 
republican government: In conformity with this 
principle, our constitution has wisely provided that 
the office of Sheriff shall not be filled by the same 
person twice successively. 



128 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"During the last six years property has under- 
gone a considerable revolution. The wild and 
visionary schemes of speculators have entranced 
landed estate to an unnatural and artificial price and 
its sudden fall involved many of our wealthy citizens 
in difficulties and embarrassments; hence arose 
litigation and contention, which caused our dockets 
to swell to an unprecedented extent. 

"This, therefore, furnished an ample harvest for 
those who had the good fortune to be elevated to 
that important station, during the period of the 
last six years — Is it reasonable? Is it just? Or 
does it comport that the old adopted maxim of 
* Rotation in Office' to hold up for publishing 
patronage, an individual, who has already had his 
fuU share and enjoyed the emoluments? To your 
good sense — to your unprejudiced minds — to your 
own feelings, Fellow-citizens, this appeal is made — 
We repeat: Pause and Reflect 1 Consult the wishes 
of the people, and you will then find, that the friends 
of 'Rotation in Office of profit' are the majority, 
and will oppose a citizen, who has been favored with 
the 'loaves and fishes' for three long years before! 
Fellow-Citizens! 

"Such are the pretensions, with which one of the 
Candidates on the Federal ticket settled at Mr. 
Bachman's on the 19 inst., appears before you. 

"Once ah-eady, as before stated, has he received 
the Benefits of the Office! — the other now in pos- 
session of an office, yielding a very comfortable 
subsistence, attended besides with very little labour, 
both of the settled Candidates it is acknowledged, 



LANCASTER A CITY 129 

are gentlemen of respectability but neither of them 
have claims on the public equal to those of Messers 
Frederick Hambright and William B. Ross. Let us 
now, Neighboiu's and Friends, look for a moment on 
the pretensions of the two last named Candidates. 

"Mr. W. B. Ross having on several former occa- 
sions, solicited your suffrages, has undergone the 
test of scrutiny, and is well known to you all as a 
man of unsullied probity, discharging with punc- 
tilious nicety and exactness, the various business 
entrusted to him in his several avocations — and the 
best encomium that can be paid to his merit, is 
seen in the respectable number of votes, which he 
uniformly obtained, when soliciting your appro- 
bation. 

"Mr. Frederick Hambright, now for the first time 
appears before you in the character of a Candidate. 
But the time is yet fresh in your recollection, when 
he manifested the most strenuous and zealous de- 
votion to his Country's Cause at a time it was 
agitated with the most dreadful convulsions — the 
perturbed clouds of war obscured our political 
horizon, a furious foe hghted the flames of victory 
in the capitol of America — and flushed with recent 
success, was about to lay in ruins a neighboring city; 
prompted by as pm-e patriotism as ever animated a 
Spartan's breast, he voluntarily renounced every 
social enjoyment, and sought distinction and glory 
in the turmoil of the camp. These are sacrifices, 
for whichever a youth, unencumbered with a family 
would have a claim on your attention; but when 
made by one, on whose fate hung the destiny of a 



130 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

young and helpless family, the debt is doubly 
entranced, and should be requited by bestowing on 
him the need of valour. Such, fellow-citizens, are 
the characters of the two gentlemen, whom we have 
assembled to support. 

"It now becomes necessary for us to adopt all 
honorable measures in our power to promote their 
election, and, we confidently trust, that your assist- 
ance, in favor of them, will be beneficial to the 
citizens generally. 

"Signed by order of the Committee 

"Daniel Hahn, 

''Chairman.'' 

"Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 18th, 1818. 
''Friend Marks Grove, 

"If my health would have permitted I should 
have accompanied my friend the Bearer Mr. Henry 
Carpenter, to your Neighborhood, as I was very 
anxious to see you before the Election, knowing 
that you are a particular friend of mine; I have 
therefore thought proper to address a few fines to 
you, to request you wiU do all in your power to 
support Frederick Hambright or myself as Candi- 
dates for the Sheriff's Office, as we have agreed to 
divide the profits of the office between us, should 
either of us succeed. — I have understood that there 
is some thought in your neighborhood to support 
Henry Smith and myself, but this would be doing 
me an injury in as much as that every vote Smith 
gets is taking one off Hambright and me jointly— 
Smith has no chance and his only intention is to 



LANCASTER A CITY 131 

elect Mathiot who is married to his Wife's cousin, 

" In haste your real friend 
"W. B. Ross." 

So bitter was the feeling between the Federalists 
and their dissentors along in the beginning of the 
city as a municipality as to make one conclude that 
the "Hog" and "Bull" ringers of a third of a 
century ago were not half as bad as the newspapers 
had pictured them to be when compared with their 
compeers of earher days. 

Think of anyone with the courage to send broad- 
cast a recipe for the making of a modern Federalist 
during any period of our country's history! And 
yet, Mr. Henry Demuth is in possession of a written 
letter penned by a once well-known citizen of "Old 
Lancaster." In setting it forth it shows that human 
nature has not changed very materially; and that 
during each pohtical campaign, down to the present 
day, men will resort to "ways that are dark and 
tricks that are vain," to accomplish their ends and 
purposes. And here the recipe is for the making of 
a modern Federalist: 

"Take the head of an old hypocrite, one pound of 
Morse's Conspiracy, one pound of a Lawyer's tongue, 
twenty-five drops of Oliver Cromwell; and fifteen 
drops of anti-christ. Put the compound into a 
motor of self-righteousness, and pound it with the 
pestile of malice, then sift it through the vessel of 
Rebellion for twenty four hours — then cork it with 
Toryism — let it settle until the next Assembly 



132 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

meets, and it will be fit for use. Give the political 
patient five drops just before election. If your 
patient is a little squemish, sweeten the whole with 
a concoxion of the Stamp Act, or the Land Tax with 
a httle of the 'Washington Benevolent Society,' and 
repeat the dose often." As a warning, let it be said, 
that the recipe is not to be used by twentieth century 
office-seekers under penalty. 

Following Mayor Passmore came Samuel Car- 
penter, serving two years, when in 1824, Nathaniel 
Lightner was elected mayor, holding the official 
position until 1830. 

It was a few years previous that the city awoke 
from its full century of Rip Van Winkle sleep. Who 
conceived the idea of forming a company to be 
known as "The Conestoga Navigation Company" 
we do not know. What the minutes of councils 
have to disclose is that in the year 1830 councils 
had been persuaded to invest $10,000 of the city's 
money in this enterprise. As the chairman of the 
Finance Committee announced, "It is to the interest 
of the city of Lancaster to foster this great public 
improvement, which will be a lasting benefit to 
every class of citizens, not only of this place, but 
of the adjoining country. By this liberal sub- 
scription, the pubUc-spirited managers of that 
company will be able to overcome all difficulties. 
The works are now substantially and permanently 
finished and the navigation of the Conestoga in 
complete and successful operation." But how httle 
imagined the mover of the resolution to invest ten 
thousand dollars of the city's money of what was 
to happen! 



LANCASTER A CITY 133 

Here follows a short account of how the "Cones- 
toga Navigation Company" was formed and the 
purpose it was to serve. It was about eighteen 
miles in length from Lancaster to Safe Harbor on 
the Susquehanna at the mouth of the Conestoga. 
By means of the tidewater canal to Port Deposit, 
a navigable communication was opened to Balti- 
more and through another canal to Philadelphia. 
Its cost was about $4,000 per mile. Its directors 
and investors were Adam Reigart, John F. Steinman, 
Edward Coleman, George B. Porter, Jasper Slay- 
maker, George Lewis Mayer, Hugh Maxwell, John 
Lintner, and George Haverstick, all well-known, 
reputable citizens. 

By the year 1833 business had increased, but not 
enough to reheve the embarrassed condition of the 
company. On March 3 of this year the mills and 
dams were offered for sale by the sheriff. The prop- 
erty was sold June first at the house of Rosina 
Hubley. By the year 1837 the second company 
went into hquidation, when Wilham and Edward 
Coleman secured a new charter, the title being 
changed to the "Lancaster, Susquehanna and 
Slackwater Navigation Company." 

To reach the great West and upper coal-fields on 
the opposite side of the river another canal was 
constructed extending to Wrightsville, signs of 
which are still visible northward even beyond the 
town of Colmnbia. What might have resulted to 
this project but for the incoming of the railroad a 
year or two following, can only be surmised. 

Whether the city of Lancaster lost the whole of 



134 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

the ten thousand it had invested in this alluring 
enterprise, or only a portion of it, may be gleaned 
from the following: *' It was at a meeting of councils, 
February 23, 1832, that a letter came from the 
Conestoga Navigation Company to the presidents 
of both branches of Councils, requesting their 
presence at a meeting of stockholders of said Com- 
pany at Parker's Hotel. It was therefore resolved 
*that a committee of two members of each branch 
be appointed to attend the meeting to represent 
the interests of the city, and that they report what 
will be done.'" This resolution was non-concurred 
in by common councils. This ended all further 
htigation with the defunct Navigation Company. 

This unfortunate venture was the first in which 
the city had become involved, and had the effect 
of withholding private capital from other enter- 
prises for the benefit of the town's growth and 
development. Without going back to the thirties, 
numerous instances might be cited of how men with 
money to invest have since become scary of this or 
that industrial project, preferring, as many have, 
to invest their money in stocks, bonds and other 
securities which were felt to be safer in the drawing 
of dividends semi-annually. And yet, history goes 
to prove that a round milHon has gone into all 
kinds of " away-from-home " schemes from which 
not a dollar has been realized. Usually these pro- 
jects are engineered by stranger promoters. It has 
too frequently been said that, if only half the money 
invested in gold mines, copper and rice, had been 
invested in helping along their own town, how much 
better and richer both the city and investor! 



LANCASTER A CITY 135 

With the beginning of 1831 came John Mathiot, 
in many respects the greatest mayor Lancaster has 
ever had down to the present time. He held the 
office until 1842, the longest term of eleven years, 
and busy ones they were, as the councihnanic 
minutes will shortly disclose. 

At the close of the year 1831, the Finance Com- 
mittee rendered their report as to the city's status 
to Select Councils, and is copied to. show just how 
the city stood financially. 

Loans already contracted $ 5,750.00 

Improvements 4,800.00 

Loan for 200 shares Conestoga Navigation stock . 8,405.00 
Borrowed on credit of the city 1,595.00 

Total city debt $20,550.00 

Income from taxes during the year $ 5,000.00 

Market rents, fines and forfeitures 200.00 

Balance in treasury 2.69 

Total revenue $ 5,202.69 

Amount Appropriated 

Interest on loans $ 1,000.00 

Salaries 652.00 

Watch and lamp expenses 600.00 

Repair of streets 760.00 

Contingencies 2,190.69 

Total expenditures $ 5,202.69 

It may readily be seen from receipts and expen- 
ditures that the year 1830 was not a very satis- 
factory one for councilmen to contemplate, with but 
a beggarly income of $5,202.69 and a permanent 
debt of $20,550. But as the minutes testify, this 



136 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

debt did not seem to disturb the tax-payers so long 
as the assessed valuation of property was not 
disturbed, nor the rate increased. 

At a pubhc meeting the cry was, "Let future 
generations shoulder their portion." Never was a 
thought given what future generations might have 
to say in helping pay off old debts which they 
had no voice in creating, with possibly enough of 
their own to be provided for. 

However, in the next succeeding chapter the 
reader shall learn that it was either necessary to go 
borrowing or to resort to the alternative of higher 
assessment of property or an increase in the rate. 
Both of these methods have been studiously avoided 
on down to the present day, perhaps for the reason 
that the issuing of bonds brought in revenue without 
incurring the expense of a tax-collector. 

At the time along in the thirties, forties and 
fifties, as a rule, only property holders could be 
elected to either branch of councils. And even 
such were men of standing, business or Hterary 
attainment. Prior to each municipal election a few 
of the citizens would meet, frame a ticket, and it 
was not so much a question of party politics, as the 
thought uppermost to keep the assessment and tax 
rate to the minimum. The common people had a 
profound reverence for their superiors, as the rulers 
were designated back in the "good old days." 

Along in the thirties councils must have been a 
very harmonious body of men as the following resig- 
nation will show: 



LANCASTER A CITY 137 

"To THE Honorable the Select Councils of the 

City of Lancaster — 

" Gentlemen: Having accepted the office of Marshal 
of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, I cannot 
longer hold the position as a member of your Honor- 
able body over which I have so long presided through 
your kindness, as president. I therefore tender you 
my resignation. It would be doing injustice to my 
feelings were I here to omit thanking you indi- 
vidually and collectively for the many flattering 
marks of your goodness and your uniformly correct 
deportment and support of the decisions which 
have been made since I have occupied the President's 
Chair. Believe me, that it is with much regret I 
leave such a body of friends among whom so much 
unanimity and good feehngs on all occasions have 
prevailed. With my most fervent wishes for the 
prosperity for this city and its inhabitants, and 
with a sincere prayer for your own happiness, per- 
mit me to assure you of my high regard and esteem, 
and to subscribe myself with great respect your 
friend and obedient servant George B. Porter." 

To fill the vacancy, John, R. Montgomery was 
unanimously elected. "Attest, Reah Frazer, Clerk 
of Select Councils." 

At the meeting following came a petition from 
sundry citizens, stating that a number of indi- 
viduals were making a regular practice of coming 
into the city from the country, and retail fresh meat 
by the pound, and thus injure the business of the 
victualers in the city, and praying councils to remedy 
11 



138 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

the evil together with the following resolution, Re- 
solved that a stop be put to the forestalling the 
market. 

That nothing was said about the high price of 
potatoes and other farm trucks, was no doubt for 
the reason that these commodities had not become 
almost prohibitory like unto the present day. But 
is not it strange how history repeats itself, and 
after nearly a century? 

Dating from the time the village became a borough 
in 1742, and for a good many years thereafter, apart 
from burgesses, mayor and councilmen, the three 
most important of the town's citizenship were the 
town clerk, the master of the markets, and last, 
though not least, the constable. Under burgess rule 
this poorly-paid official had all kinds of duties to 
perform. He was required to attend fairs, watch 
the public bread bakers to see that they were giving 
the proper weight according to act of Assembly. 
In addition, instead of being allowed to keep the 
Sabbath holy in attending service, he was compelled 
to visit all the public houses to find out if there was 
any drinking or "tipphng" going on. 

The tallest constable we ever knew as a boy was 
high constable Joe Brintenal, appointed as the head 
of the "squad," but whether on account of his 
height of over six feet six by the tailor's yardstick, 
none of the lads of the town could tell. However, 
it used to be said that Joseph Brintenal's tailor 
usually kept two yardsticks on hand, the longer one 
in buying suiting for Joseph, the shorter used in 
measuring him in height. How much material was 



LANCASTER A CITY 139 

actually saved by this hocus-pocus scheme of 
legerdemain, the plyer of shears was never known 
to disclose. 

With all due respect for our present-day police 
force, it would be a reflection on their dignity to 
designate them constables! They are known as 
pohcemen, dressed in poHce uniform, but whether 
furnished by the city or out of their own monthly 
pay, the chronicler has not been informed. During 
snow, rain or storm one of these conservators of the 
peace can be seen perched, if not on a pedestal, at 
least on his feet, sometimes on one, sometimes on 
the other and occasionally on both, according to 
weather conditions. How he manages to wear a 
smile when a frown would be more in place with 
the smell of gasoline and the sound of the auto-horn 
drumming in his ears is past finding out. Alto- 
gether, he is the most faithful and the poorest paid 
of all the city's employees! Centrally located on a 
"diamond" he is compelled to look in four directions 
at the same time; and what must be very confusing, 
he is expected to note down in memory the number 
of every automobile hcense-tag. Catching a chauf- 
fem* exceeding the speed of seven miles an hour, he 
is likewise required to stand face to face with the 
violator, who will swear himself black and blue in 
the face in order to get out of a very tight pinch. 

It used to be in the days of the constables when a 
"bmn" was caught with more of the elixir of life's 
charms than he could well carry perpendicularly, he 
was hustled off to the lockup on a wheelbarrow. 
Now he is carefully bundled upright and taken to 



140 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

"bummers' hall" in the patrol run by gasoline. Of 
course, the "Black Maria" is still in use during 
court trials. But it won't be long until these 
violators of the common law will be taken in an auto 
fitted out with cushion seats and rubber tires to 
preserve their perfect equihbrium in going over the 
bumps in the roads. And why, it may be asked, 
should they not be treated with the same con- 
sideration as are the Street Commissioner, the 
Superintendent of the Water Works, not to overlook 
the Chief of the Fire Department, as he goes his 
way in an automobile? 

Why, if a boy is caught running his bicycle on the 
pavements with the danger of striking a loose brick, 
into the street he goes. It was not so in the good 
old days when Jim Thackara delivered all the 
express goods on a wheelbarrow, and that too on 
the sidewalks. 

In closing this chapter, may not the narrator ask 
what has become of Tommy Hannigan, peddler of 
matches? It has been said that the incoming of 
the electric light broke up his business. Then there 
is little Bhnd Tommy who leans against a telegraph 
pole in entertaining all the country people with his 
accordeon. The only one of the old-timers is Baker 
Young, dispenser of the same almanac that once 
upon a time predicted snow in July when it actually 
came. Nor can the chronicler forget Johnny Elliott, 
who carried a kettle of butter all the way to Baltimore 
on a hot August day. Since Abe Miller, the fiddler, 
is no more, visitors to Bocky Springs have to be 
satisfied with operatic music, with a deluge of the 
Tipperary kind. Oh, oh! 



CHAPTER XI 

The Incoming of the Railroad through 
Lancaster 

After reading the following advertisement pub- 
lished in a city paper shortly after the railroad had 
been changed from what is known as the "cut-off" 
to its present location, if of a reminiscent turn, you, 
dear reader, will think yourself back in "Old Lan- 
caster" of eighty years ago, ready to jump aboard a 
train on its way westward bound. The advertise- 
ment ran as follows : 

"In large and splendid eight- wheel cars, travelers 
can now take passage via the Lancaster and Colum- 
bia railroad where, at said point, Columbia, pas- 
sengers can take the packet which has been fitted 
up in a very superior manner, after the most ap- 
proved models of boats used on the Erie canal, 
and not surpassed by those of any other line. For 
speed and comfort, this line is not excelled by any 
other in the United States. Passengers for Cin- 
cinnati, Louisville, Nathes, Nashville, St. Louis and 
other points will always be sure to be taken without 
delay, as this line connects with Pittsburgh, carrying 
the mail. Only two days are required to make the 
journey from Lancaster to Pittsburgh." 

Mark the time required, " Only two days from 
Lancaster to Pittsburgh!" Of course, nothing was 

141 



142 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

said about Pullman palace cars. This is no fancy 
sketch, but an advertisement for the accommoda- 
tion of travelers westward bound. 

With this, the narrator shall enter upon a subject 
over which so much discussion has resulted during 
a year or two past, growing out of the contemplated 
removal of the P. R. R. passenger station to what 
is known as the "cut-off." 

Whatever has hitherto been written pro or con 
by this or that writer shall have no weight with the 
chronicler; the minutes of Councils shall be faith- 
fully adhered to from the beginning of the road 
leading through the city to its completion. 

At a special meeting of councils, December 21, 
1831, "It was resolved by the Select, concurred in 
by the Common, that a committee be appointed 
by both branches to draft a petition to the Legis- 
lature for and on behalf of the citizens of Lancaster, 
to alter the present route of the railroad so as to 
make the city of Lancaster a point according to the 
directions of the act of General Assembly, directing 
the construction of said road." The committee con- 
sisted of Mr. Logenecker on the part of Select, and 
Mr. Whiteside on the part of Common Councils. 

At a meeting, January 3, 1832, the president of 
Select Councils presented a communication of the 
proceedings had at a general town meeting of citizens 
at the court house on the nineteenth of December, 
1831, for the purpose of taking measures to have the 
present location of the railroad changed so as 
to bring the same within the city, with the following 
resolution: 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 143 

"Resolved, That this meeting recommend to 
Select and Common Councils to make an appro- 
priation to meet the expenses of the survey already 
made, and such other expenses as may be incurred 
to carry into effect the object of this meeting. 

"Resolved, That the Mayor be and is hereby 
authorized to draw his warrant in favor of Mr. 
Joshua Scott for $100 to be paid out of any un- 
appropriated monies in the treasury — And also that 
the expenses of the committee at a late town meeting, 
for their trip to Harrisburg be paid in the same 
manner." In this, Common Councils concurred, 
limiting the expense to $100. 

At a meeting, March 6, Mayor Mathiot presented 
the account of Moncure Robinson, engineer, "for 
services of making a sm*vey and the estimate cost 
of locating the railroad through the city, amounting 
to $284, which was ordered paid." 

A petition was read from sundry citizens, lot- 
holders on "Front" street, Bethelstown; another 
from those Hving along "Navigation"; and still 
another from those residing in "Adamstown." At 
about this time there seemed to be towns within 
towns, not to overlook "Irishtown," "Ross's 
Corner," "Stony Alley," "Dinah's HiU," with other 
"hills" which, it seems, business shoppers have 
avoided ever since the town was laid out. 

Mention of Adamstown, which has already been 
referred to — it was not originally a part of James 
Hamilton's plot. It came into his possession later, 
and comprised, as has been said, a town within 
itself. This may account for the way Middle and 
Church streets were laid out. 



144 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

And now, those more interested in streets than in 
the raihoad can go their way in looking up "First" 
street, "Ross's Corner," not to forget that of 
* ' Navigation. ' ' Now to the raihoad : 

At the meeting, March 13, it was "Resolved, that a 
coromittee of five persons be appointed to consist of 
three from the citizens, and one from each of the 
Councils, who are to proceed to Harrisburg and 
immediately secure alteration of the route of the 
Philadelphia and Columbia railroad so that the same 
may pass through the business part of the city; 
and that the city of Lancaster will engage to have 
the work done, provided that sixty-thousand dollars 
are appropriated by the State for that purpose." 

At another meeting, March 27, the committee 
presented to Councils a memorial addressed to the 
Senate and House of Representatives, which, being 
read in both branches, was approved. "It was 
further resolved by Select and concurred in by 
Common that a committee be appointed to ascertain 
as nearly as possible the damages that may be 
sustained to private property [city lots] in the 
location of the railroad, also to obtain such sub- 
scriptions as may be offered toward the promotion 
of the same." 

At a meeting, April 14, a resolution was passed 
by both branches, "directing the Legislature to 
change the route of the raihoad between the big 
and httle Conestoga bridges, so as to cross North 
Queen street." In this report nothing was said 
about the "sixty-thousand dollars" to be appro- 
priated by the State. The ordinance follows at the 
end of this sketch. 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 145 

At the May meeting following, an "Ordinance, 
expressive of the consent of the city of Lancaster 
to the proposed alteration of the route was adopted 
by both branches of Councils. Then followed, 
"Resolved, that a committee of three from each 
council be appointed, whose special duty it shall be 
forthwith procure Joshua Scott to survey and locate 
the route for the proposed alteration as may be 
most beneficial to the city, stating the probable 
cost, so that the contract for making the contem- 
plated changes in the route may as speedily as 
possible be made with the Canal Commissioners." 
Concurred in by Common Councils. 

"A committee was named to proceed to Harris- 
burg with a copy of the ordinance, together with 
copies of papers relative to the proposed alteration 
of the route of the railroad." 

On the committee's return a report was made 
to councils, May 8, "that they had presented said 
papers to his Excellency, Governor Wolf. He im- 
mediately, on examining them, approved of the 
said Ordinance of councils in obedience to the 
requisitions of said resolution." Joshua Scott, on 
being notified of his election of engineer, reported, 
"That I will perform said duties faithfully until the 
railroad is completed at the rate of $1,000 per 
annum payable quarterly." 

By action of councils, he was employed as en- 
gineer "to make the necessary maps of said route, 
and to do all other work to meet the approval of 
the Canal Commissioners." 

A committee was named to ascertain the most 



146 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

favorable terms on which a loan or loans of money 
can be had for the city for the purpose of altering 
the railroad route. 

On June second a resolution was offered and con- 
curred in that a petition be prepared and submitted 
to the Legislature, "praying that the grant of the 
$60,000 already appropriated to the city of Lan- 
caster be paid as the work on said alteration on the 
route progresses (the same as in the other parts of 
said raihoad), thereby saving the city the trouble 
and expense of obtaining it by loan, inasmuch as 
it has already been appropriated; also to obtain 
their permission to raise and alter the Hardwick 
bridge to suit the purposes of the Engineer in 
affecting the contemplated alteration of the railroad 
between the Big and Little Conestogas." 

After reporting that repeated changes had been 
made by Mr. Scott, the Railroad Conmiittee, on 
October 3, 1833, made the following report to 
Councils: "The gross cost of the road up to this 
day is $45,903.53. Of this sum the State has paid 
her pro rata of the cost of grading and forming the 
road, amounting to $23,790.13. The probable 
amount of cost necessary to complete the road will, 
as near as can be ascertained, be as follows, viz: 

Amount of work yet to be done on the 13, 

Section | 7,000.00 

Damages and fences yet unpaid 2,500.00 

Bridges 4,500.00 

Contingencies 500.00 

Total. . . $14,500.00 

To which add the amount ah-eady paid 45,903.53 

Total $60,403.53 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 147 

The report continues, "This calculation does not 
include the bridge at Hensel's alley (if there is to 
be one) nor the laying the additional length of rails, 
nor the damages to the old road, which will amount 
to at least $15,000 more." 

A week later, October 9, "The Railroad Com- 
mittee have felt it to be their duty to convene 
Councils on some matters deeply affecting the 
interests of the city. It is with much regret your 
committee are still obliged to complain of the slow- 
ness of the work on Section 13. If this part of the 
work had been prosecuted with proper energy, it 
might easily have been completed six months ago, 
and the city reheved of the burden of the largest 
portion of the cost. 

"The contractors appeared before your com- 
mittee and announced their inabihty to go on with 
the work unless the full measure of rock-excavation 
was allowed; as this was a matter altogether with 
the State Engineer, the committee could not alter 
it without abrocating the contract by the city with 
these contractors, and at the same time making the 
city hable of excess of measure, above the regular 
estimates; and it is very doubtful whether the 
work would have been any further on even had 
such allowance been made. 

"The time fixed by the city to complete the 
work is narrowed down to the first of November, 
1833, a period of not more than twenty days, and 
upwards of $7,000 worth of work to be done, a task 
rendered almost impossible by its magnitude, and 
yet, upon its execution, materially depends the 



148 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

most vital interests of the city. The Engineer 
informed your committee that after the first day 
of November, the Connnonwealth would take the 
work in their own hands and complete it themselves. 
Such an event is greatly to be deplored, as by that 
time the city will have expended upwards of $25,000 
on the road, and her claim on the Legislature for 
rehef in a great measure cut off by the unnecessary 
delay in completing the work, with the odium that 
must attach to the city for the breech of her contract, 
made with the Commonwealth to complete the road. 

"Mr. Scott, our Engineer, so far back as the 
twenty-fourth of July last, declared the contract 
of Messrs. Hambright and Overholtzer be abandoned 
on account of the delay of the work; a copy of that 
declaration accompanies this report. 

"It is to be regretted that this abandonment was 
not acted upon at the time it was made by the 
Engineers; the road might now be finished. The 
committee delayed acting upon it, in consequence 
of the contractors repeatedly promising to prosecute 
the work with greater energy. An important crisis 
in the affairs of the city has arrived, that will require 
all the wisdom and energy of the councils to decide 
upon. As there is safety in the multiphcity of 
counsellors, it has been thought most advisable to 
lay this matter before Councils for them to con- 
sider, and decide upon the best course to be pmsued 
in this state of the business." 

This lengthy report resulted in another meeting 
on the evening following, at which the engineer and 
contractors appeared before councils with a full 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 149 

statement in writing of the present state of the road 
upon the thirteenth Section. 

On February 11, 1834, Councils sent a memorial 
to the Legislature, "praying that the city be reheved 
of the cost of laying the rails on the increased length 
of the road occasioned by the change of location." 
This confession was the cause of great regret and 
anxiety on the part of Councils. 

On March 4, the following claim was presented to 
Councils by Hambright and Oberholtzer: "We 
claim a reasonable compensation for extra work in 
changing the hne of road and embankment." Fol- 
lowing is a long defence by the city, but too lengthy 
to be copied. 

At a meeting of April 10, 1834, the Railroad Com- 
mittee made their additional report: "With the 
current year closes the principal part of the expenses 
occurred in constructing that part of the Phila- 
delphia and Columbia railroad between the bridges 
of the Big and Little Conestoga, as changed by the 
Corporation of Lancaster in pursuance of a reso- 
lution of the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of the 24 of 
April, 1832, the grading and bed formation of 
which have been completed, all necessary bridges 
built and single track of rails laid from one end of 
the road to the other. In conducting this great 
and important pubhc work expenses have been 
incurred, particularly in the damage to private 
property beyond our expectation. By the resolu- 
tion of the Legislature, the city of Lancaster is 
required to complete with rails the increased length 



150 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

of the road, occasioned by such change in its loca- 
tion. The city, to save herself from ruin, was 
compelled to accept tliis mireasonable condition 
which your conmiittee feel confident was never 
mtended to be exacted, and from the expense of 
which they feel equally confident that at the next 
meeting of the Legislature they will reheve the 
city of Lancaster from the payment of the $60,000 
granted by the Legislature to the city to complete 
this work. 

"$28,127.36, including $2,144 allowed the city to 
defray the expenses of building the stone culbert 
over the run at Hardwick, has been received. The 
balance that remains due and coming to the city, 
it is expected the Canal Commissioners will pay 
as soon as the State shall have received funds, first 
deducting therefrom the cost of completing with 
rails the additional length of the road occasioned 
by the change in the location. This balance when 
received ought to be immediately apphed to the 
payment of such damages occasioned by the road 
made by the city to carry on the work, and thus 
lessen as soon as possible the unnecessary payment 
of interest. 

"Your committee find the city debt to be $47,750, 
the greater part of which has been created by 
change in the road." Following the conunittee's 
report came a lengthy eulogy of the action of Coun- 
cils with a "fling" at certain of those higher in 
authority: "It cannot but be the subject of amaze- 
ment to see the most costly and valuable public 
road ever made in the United States, located within 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 151 

one mile of the largest and most important inland 
city in the Union, containing a population of up- 
wards eight thousand inhabitants, when the practi- 
cabihty of bringing it through was fully ascertained, 
without scarcely an apology for this flagrant viola- 
tion of the pubHc interests. The object contem- 
plated by the Legislature, in the construction of her 
pubhc improvements, was to open communication 
between the seaboard and the lakes; affording her 
citizens generally the opportunity of conveying to 
market the inamense riches with which the western 
part of the state abounds; that but for these im- 
provements would forever have remained where 
Nature had placed them, valueless to the owners 
and useless to the community. The distinguished 
gentlemen composing the board of Canal Com- 
missioners, have studiously endeavored to make 
every town of any consequence along the line a 
point of public improvement. This truly wise and 
commendable pohcy was frustrated with regard to 
our city. Major Wilson, in the employ of the 
State, who located the road, seemed determined to 
avoid Lancaster, and actually reduced the grade 
twelve feet in a mile, when he took the level of his 
survey through the city. This remarkable fact was 
discovered by Mr. Scott who took the level of the 
same course. Mr. Wilson's determination to take 
the road around the city, instead of through it, in 
opposition to the earnest sohcitation of councils 
and the anxious desires of its citizens. This gentle- 
man has since paid the debt of nature; the committee 
therefore forebare any further remarks on his con- 



152 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

duct, leaving the evil he intended us, to repose with 
him, and the good he may have done, live after 
him." 

The foregoing somewhat caustic reflection on the 
character and standing of Mr. Wilson may have 
resulted from a misunderstanding between the city 
railroad committee and himself, rather than from 
any desire to discriminate against Lancaster. 

It would seem that the city committee's troubles 
were never to end. On May 27, 1834, the following 
was submitted to Councils: "It was yesterday 
announced that the State, having selected a piece 
of ground in Mr. Duchman's field, entirely beyond 
the business part of the city for the purpose of 
building thereon a weight-house, your committee 
was no less surprised than mortified at this un- 
expected intelligence. Mr. Gay was called upon to 
learn the truth, which he confirmed by stating that 
he had just returned from laying out the plan for 
the foundation of the building; that Mr. Duchman 
had given the ground to the State at such a price 
as it might think right and proper to give. Your 
committee informed Mr. Gay that it had always 
been contemplated to offer the lots owned by the 
Corporation to the State for estabhshing such 
buildings as the Commonwealth might require. It 
has always been an important dissideratim to bring 
as much business into the city as possible; the objects 
contemplated by changing the railroad will be en- 
tirely defeated if the business produced is to be 
done without the limits of the city; therefore, so 
important a depot as the weighthouse ought not to 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 153 

be suffered to be built out of the business parts of 
the city, if it were in the power of Councils to pre- 
vent it, which it certainly is by offering the State 
such lots owned by the Corporation lying between 
Prince and Water." As the result of this compro- 
mise, certain lots were sold by the city to the State 
on which stood at one time the Goodell coal yard. 

Mention of "going outside of the city" goes far 
to show that the committee were not looking toward 
the town's extension. It is difficult to understand 
what "open fields" meant. However, at last, when 
settlement day came, it is surprising how many 
property-holders who had been benefited by the 
change stood ready to present bills for damages. 
In round number there were just one hundred run- 
ning into thousands. But the arbitrators cut out 
the great majority, holding that the advantages 
were greater than the amount claimed. Only in 
one instance were claims allowed as presented. 
One whose claim was $2,300, got but fifty, and so, 
the larger the claim, the less the reward. Over 
fifty per cent, of the claims were offset by advantages. 

At the time of the location of the raihoad the 
passenger station did not stand where it is at present. 
By taking a bird's eye view of the wood-cut, it 
will be seen that close by where the small loco- 
motive stands was the "Pioneer Hotel," and directly 
south where the drug store looms up, once the 
Museum, was the car office. Directly on the corner 
where the Brunswick stands, was the North Ameri- 
can hotel. In this was the ticket office, and where 
the passenger station now is, was Owen Hoppel's 
hotel. 

12 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 155 

The chronicler is now to relate what occurred at a 
meeting of Councils in 1858, entitled "an ordinance 
relative to the granting of certain property of the 
city of Lancaster to the Pennsylvania R. R. Com- 
pany in two parts." 

" Section 1, Grant in fee simple the piece of ground 
at the angle of North Queen and Chestnut streets 
whenever by resolution of the Board of Directors 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company that they 
will locate and erect a passenger depot on adjoining 
ground, shall be presented to the Mayor, with a 
clause that the grant shall be void if such depot 
shall not be erected within one year after the passage 
of this ordinance. 

"Section 2, Grants the Company for the use of 
their buildings the privilege to build over the pubhc 
alley between North Queen and Duke streets at a 
height of twelve feet or more and across said alley, 
with such additional track or tracks between it and 
Prince Street, and at such points, deviation and 
grades as the Company may desire, so as not to 
prevent the ordinary travel along said street and 
alleys." The ordinance was offered by Mayor 
Burrowes and passed by both Select and Conunon 
Councils on December 7, 1858. That the passenger 
station was started and completed possibly a year 
or two later, its location testifies. 

The narrator has failed to find in the ordinance 
any provision that the said passenger depot was 
never to be removed. 

Turning again to the minutes of Select Council 
of July 22, 1834, it occurred to the committee that 



156 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

they had overlooked one very important matter — 
"turn outs" to connect with a lateral rail or rails 
for the accommodation of those running cars along 
certain streets. It may be surprising to many to 
learn that rails were laid along Chestnut from Duke 
to Water. And it was even proposed by one 
Councilman to run the tracks down North Queen 
as far as the court house. If this suggestion did 
not meet the approval of Councils, it is not so many 
years ago when rails were laid on Water street clear 
to the Conestoga. 

But at last came the day of jollification. At a 
meeting, October 3, 1834, "It was resolved by both 
Councils that a committee be appointed to wait on 
the Governor at Columbia, and invite him to the 
hospitahties of the city." And wait upon him they 
did, bringing him with them to Lancaster with his 
retinue. From here they all went their way aboard 
a car drawn by the "John Bull," the "Enterprise" 
or "Bald Eagle," to the great big city of "Phila- 
delphy." 

Here follows the ordinance on file in the Recorder's 
Office. 

"An Ordinance. 

"Expressive of the consent of the City of Lan- 
caster to the proposed alteration of the rout of the 
Philadelphia and Columbia railroad: Whereas by a 
resolution of the senate and house of Representatives 
of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania duly approved 
by his excellency, the governor on the twenty-sixth 
day of April last the Canal commissioners are 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 157 

authorised and required to allow the corporation 
of the [City] of Lancaster to change the location of 
the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad, between 
the Httle and big Conestoga bridges, so that the 
same shall pass through the City of Lancaster, at 
or near the intersection of North Queen and Chestnut 
Streets, and to grade and form the same for a double 
track of railway, for the performance of which 
work the said commissioners shall pay to the said 
Corporation a sum not exceeding $60,000 and 
whereas the said resolution is not to take effect, 
or be in force unless at pubUc meetings in their 
respective wards the consent in writing of at least 
two thirds of the taxable inhabitants of the city be 
obtained and the consent of the corporation itself 
be expressed by an ordinance and whereas two 
thirds of the taxable inhabitants of the city have in 
writing in pursuance of the provision of the said 
resolution expressed their consent thereto, therefore 
be it ordained and enacted by the Citizens of Lan- 
caster in Select and Common Councils assembled 
that the mayor, alderman and citizens of the said 
city consent to the contemplated change in the 
location of the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad 
and hereby obhgate themselves to pay all damages 
that may arise as well by the change of the location 
of said road as those caused by the original location, 
which damages shall be appraised and assessed in 
the same manner as upon other sections of said 
road, and also all sums over the said $60,000 neces- 
sary to effect said change and complete as aforesaid 
that part of the road between the said Bridges and 



158 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

also that they would finish and complete with rails 
in like manner at their own expense the additional 
length occasioned by said change and that the 
said road shall be graded and formed for a double 
track of railway on or before the first day of April 
One Thousand Eighteen Hundred and thirty-three, 
provided that the canal commissioners enter into a 
contract with the said Mayor, Alderman and Citizens 
to pay them the sum of $60,000 for making the said 
change and doing the said work agreeable to the 
terms and provisions of the said resolution. 

"Sec. 2nd. and it be further ordained by the 
authority aforesaid that the mayor of the city be 
and he is hereby requested forthwith to transmit 
to the Governor of the Commonwealth a copy of 
this Ordinance together with copies of the papers 
signed by the taxable inhabitants of the city, sig- 
nifying their consent to the proposed alteration of 
the route of the railroad ordained and enacted into 
a law at the City of Lancaster this first of May 
A. D. 1832. 

"George H. Bomberger 

President of the Common Council 
"E. ScHAEFFER, President of the Select Council 
Attest: Jacob Shindel, Clerk 

C. C. Reah Frazer, Clerk S. C. 

" City of Lancaster. 
"Personally appeared before the subscriber, re- 
corder of said City, Reah Frazer, Clerk of the 
Select Council of said city who being duly sworn 
according to law doth depose and say that the 



COMING OF THE RAILROAD 159 

within and foregoing ordinance entitled an ordinance 
expressive of the consent of the City of Lancaster 
to the proposed alteration of the route of the Phila- 
delphia and Columbia raihoad was duly pubhshed 
in the Lancaster InteUigencer on the 8th day of May 
A. D. 1832 a weekly newspaper published in said 
City by Thomas Feran. 

"Reah Frazer. 
"Sworn & Subscribed this 9th 
day of May A. D. 1832. 
Coram : Patton Ross. Recorder. 

"I, Patton Ross, Recorder of the City of Lan- 
caster do certify that the within and foregoing 
ordinance entitled an ordinance expressive of the 
consent of the City of Lancaster to the proposed 
alteration of the route of the Philadelphia and 
Columbia raihoad was duly enacted by the select 
and common councils of said City on the first day 
of May A. D. 1832. 

"In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 
name and affixed the seal of said City this 9th day 
of May, Anno Domini 1832. 



"Patton Ross, 

" Recorder, 



" Corporation 

Seal 
"Recorded May 9th 1832. 
"per Jacob Peelor 
'' Recorder:' 



CHAPTER XII 

Our Venerated Grandmothers and 
Granddaughters 

Only occasionally during the seventy-six years of 
burgess-rule had mention been made of om* "ven- 
erated grandmothers," as the chronicler delights to 
designate the wives and daughters, who, in their 
respective spheres, did their part in building up the 
townstead down to the time it became a city in 1818. 

Wliile the women took httle or no part in their 
husbands' affairs in the running of the town, it need 
not be assmned that all they had to do was to sit 
themselves down in the ease of contentment. From 
all that history furnishes, they were usually blessed 
with large famihes, and could always find some- 
thing to do in the bringing them up in the way 
they should go. Of course, there were not any 
suffragettes nor temperance lecturers among the 
married or the single. But if not before, at least 
during the Revolution and after peace was declared, 
the borough had its "Revolutionary Daughters." 
And they managed to keep their names on the 
map. They had their sociables, quillings, knittings, 
and the making of homespun, at times for the 
wounded soldiers, on other occasions for the poor 
and needy. Enough has aheady been shown that 
the town has ever had its deservmg poor, possibly 

160 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 161 

more in ye olden times than at the present day, 
owing largely to changed conditions. 

From Httle scraps gathered from history's pages 
the women of "Old Lancaster," if they worried at 
all, did not do so over twentieth-century gossip, 
card parties and pictm'e shows. In promenading 
the business streets on a Saturday evening to see 
the sights, they were not hustled from side to side, 
nor in crossing a thoroughfare were their nerves 
shattered by the sound of the infernal automobile 
horn! 

Entering one of the shops to buy material for 
either summer or winter use, they did not go home- 
ward worrying, like their present-day sisters, over 
the cost when made known to their husbands. 
Coming down within the memory of the few yet 
living, the town had its "Old Woman's Brigade," 
and it was not chartered either. This self-consti- 
tuted body of good Samaritans had its mission. 
In case of a lost boy or girl, away they would go 
with horn or dinner-bell, stirring up the whole com- 
munity with their ding-dongings. And when a fire 
broke out during night or day, all classes — men, 
women, and even boys and girls — turned out to 
instruct the firemen how to extinguish the flames. 

Everybody during the chronicler's boyhood seemed 
to take things in an easy-going way, nor were the 
sleepers greatly disturbed by the night-watchman's 
rap at the front door, as he called out, "P-a-s-t 
two o'clock un' a snowy mornin'." A queer custom, 
was it not, with their small watch-boxes located 
here and there, wherein they would roast themselves 



162 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

during the time between calls. Then, on Hallow-een, 
what fun for the boys to see one of these boxes carried 
a half mile with the watchman securely encased 
inside, swearing in "Dutch" how he would have the 
Hallow-eeners locked up in the station house to be 
fed for a week on bread and water. 

This was not anything unusual in the "Good Old 
Days," when all classes really enjoyed Hfe in quite a 
different way from what they do today. Imagine, 
if you can, my busy merchant, a half-dozen business 
men sitting on a slab-bench in front of one of their 
stores on a summer afternoon swapping yarns! 
And oh, glory, such yarns, always and forever talking 
about the good times their grandfathers had when 
Hving within, for and by themselves back in the 
good old days! 

Have you ever thought, dear reader, that each 
generation has had its good old days to recall? 
Oh, it is a funny world, is it not? No, the world is 
all right, it is the many funny people living in it 
that makes it seem funny, each wanting the best 
part of it for himself when he should know that in 
the end a very small plot will be sufficient to contain 
all that is mortal. It was while passing the old 
Moravian graveyard that the thought occurred, how 
little a few of the burgesses knew what was to follow 
after a century or more of their earthly pilgrimage? 

Referring again to the women of " Old Lancaster," 
it was in the year 1818, the year the borough became 
a city, that the "Administration" building, so soon 
to be dismantled for governmental purposes, was 
erected, largely through the persevering efforts of 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 163 

women! And now let the few old grandmothers 
yet Hving in the halo of a ripe old age imagine 
themselves back ninety-one years ago. And as 
they stand on the vacant space on the Prince Street 
side in an open lot, they will see General Lafayette 
dismount from his carriage on the twenty-fifth of 
July, 1825, to be received by a cordon of women, 
who, before the free school system had become a 
possibihty, had been instrumental in having this 
building erected, not so much for their own children, 
as for the poor of the town who could not afford 
to send their own to any one of the paid schools so 
numerous among the well-to-do. 

In associating the names of the women of "Old 
Lancaster" of a century ago with that of the in- 
vincible patriot, General Lafayette, is so entirely 
appropriate at the present time, and for the reason 
that throughout the forty-eight states of the Union 
the women are untiring in their efforts in upholding 
the great cause of human liberty, not only in this 
land of the free, but over on certain parts of the 
continent of Europe, where that "one touch of 
nature" permeates all hearts with the instinct of 
civil and rehgious Uberty for down-trodden humanity. 

And here, in these days of war, let the chronicler 
reproduce the scene, as the women conducted General 
Lafayette into the Administration building where the 
children of both sexes to the number of three hundred 
and thirty had assembled to pay their last tribute 
to the great soldier and patriot. 

During the darkest hours of the Revolution he 
came as the friend of liberty to join the American 



164 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

forces. And now, a half century later, he had landed 
in "Old Lancaster" to help reap the fruits for which 
he had fought so gallantly as the devoted friend of 
Washington, "first in peace, first in the hearts of 
his countrymen." 

On the occasion referred to, the boys were arrayed 
in blue sashes, each with a bunch of laurel; the girls 
in their white, pink gowns, each with a bunch of 
wild flowers fresh from the hills of the Conestoga. 
And as the General entered the school room, on 
banners were the revered names, Washington, Penn, 
Frankhn and other statesmen of Pennsylvania. 
On an upper tier of side seats, sat one hundred and 
thirty ladies, who had devoted their best years in 
making the school a success. In full view were three 
neatly decorated transparencies — The Genius of 
Liberty, standing on America, supported by Wash- 
ington, Lafayette and the great Frankhn who had 
visited "Old Lancaster" in helping dedicate Franklin 
college so many years before. 

On reaching the inner door of the Administration 
building, young and old rose from their seats, and 
with one acclaim, greeted Lafayette by joining in 
the chorus: 

"Hero, hail! all hail to thee, 
Champion of our Liberty." 

And now, what is to follow Lafayette's visit in 
1825? No more befitting time than the present 
could be had in recalHng his own home country, 
France, now strugghng to perpetuate the freedom for 
which he gave his best years and money to the 
cause of our own independence. 




GENERAL LAFAYETTE 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 165 

But the end is not yet. It was on the 24th of 
June, 1834, that the clerk of Common Councils 
presented to the Select branch the following resolu- 
tion for concurrence: 

"Resolved, that this community has received with 
deep solemn regret the intelKgence that Lafayette is 
no more! Resolved, that we sympathise with our 
fellow citizens throughout the Union for the loss of 
Him we loved; whose hfe has been a continuous 
scene of philanthropic exertion; and whose efforts 
and sacrifices in the estabhshing of our Independence 
has endeared him to every heart that loves its 
country. 

"The splendor of his Star shone bright and un- 
dimmed during the darkest hour that lowered over 
his native land, and the confidence of his country- 
men, and the world in his patriotism remained firm 
and undiminished to the last. 

"Resolved, that as a last tribute of respect to the 
memory of the departed Lafayette, these Halls be 
hung with black crepe for the space of six months; 
that the members of councils wear crepe upon their 
left arm for thirty days, and that it be recom- 
mended that our citizens do Hkewise. That the 
Bell of the city court house on tomorrow be muffled 
and tolled all day and that in the meantime a 
minute-gun be fired. 

"Resolved, that a committee be appointed to 
wait upon our fellow citizen, George W. Barton, 
Esquire, and request him to pronounce an Eulogium 
at such time as may suit his convenience. 

"Resolved, that a certified copy of these pro- 



166 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

ceedings, with a letter of condolence, be sent by 
the Mayor of the city to the relatives of the deceased 
Lafayette, and that Mr. Fortney be appointed a 
committee on the part of Common Councils, and 
Messrs. Hall and Freeman, on the part of Select to 
carry the resolutions into effect." 

At a meeting, July first, "It was resolved to invite 
Captain Worrall and the corps under his command 
(the Washington Rifles of Philadelphia) to hear 
the eulogism by Mr. Barton on the illustrious 
Lafayette in the Lutheran church at the time 
named." 

In reading the tribute passed by Councils of nearly 
a century ago, one cannot help but think that history 
is repeating itself in this twentieth century, with 
the spirit of "seventy-six" still dominant among the 
people of "New Lancaster." 

At the time of Lafayette's visit in 1825, he was 
in his dechning years and in his seventieth when he 
died in his own country, France. 

If, then, more space is given to the patriotic 
Lafayette and to the women of "Old Lancaster" 
than would seem necessary, it is because both were 
deserving. Coming down to more recent times, 
most of the philanthropic work done for the eleva- 
tion of the deserving has been the result of women 
either in their individual or corporate capacity. 
Mention need be made of only a few notable examples 
of women active in all church work from the time of 
the burgesses to the present day. We verily beheve, 
if it were not for women, half the churches in the 
city of Lancaster would be vacant. Let them re- 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 167 

main at home during one single Sabbath, and the 
chances are the pastors would be preaching to empty 
benches. Again, nine men out of ten, if they attend 
at all, do so to please their wives, or may be, their 
sweethearts. With mothers and daughters it is a 
religious duty; with men, most of us at least, a habit 
not innate, acquired from our mothers, perhaps. 

A half century ago, few there were who could 
fail to recall the Bowman home in charge of the 
sainted Mary, sister of the Rev. Samuel Bowman. 
Nor can elderly people forget the "Home of the 
Friendless" started by Mrs. Kramph. Later on 
came the Y. W. C. A., the Catholic Society, The 
Long Home, The Iris Club, The Patriotic Daughters 
of the Revolution, all under the supervision of 
women. What the narrator does not know is how 
many in years gone by have imitated Mrs. Ann 
Henry in the raising of thirteen children. The only 
spheres to which women have not been admitted are 
the councils and school board, made up largely of 
bachelors and widowers without any children of 
their own to rear and educate. However, since one 
lone woman has at last been elected to Congress, 
there is still hope for the women of " New Lancaster." 

Diverting the non-churchgoer's attention momen- 
tarily from the minutes we find "That in accordance 
with the wishes of the people of Lancaster, expressed 
at a general town meeting, the Legislature are 
hereby cordially invited to make the city of Lan- 
caster the seat of Government; and that they are 
respectfully assured that suitable and commodious 
buildings will be prepared for their accommodation." 



168 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

This was followed by— "Whereas, it is the intention 
to remove the Capitol from Harrisburg, resolved 
that a committee be appointed to visit said city." 
But as shall be seen, they did not bring the capitol 
with them. The cause is to be found in the fact 
that the committees' expenses being hmited to fare, 
and only enough for a night's lodging at one of 
the cheap taverns — this alone should have taught 
councilmen that the members of the Legislature 
were not to be won over by any fine display of 
rhetoric, feehngly delivered. There may have been 
one other reason for not winning over this august 
body of legislators, a shp of the tongue by one of 
the visiting committee in making mention of the 
"ten-plate wood stove"! 

However, during the year 1836, a determined 
effort on the part of Councils was made to purchase 
land in various parts of the city on which to erect 
another market house. The first was to buy the 
property extending from the corner of Orange and 
Prince to the alley to the south. Also the lot at 
the corner of East King and Duke streets. Then 
came Mr. Hopkins', along Duke to Orange, followed 
by Mr. Humes' corner back of Mr. Hopkins'. The 
most favorable site seemed to be Mr. Reidenbach's 
lot and building adjoining the market house on 
West King. But after many months of discussion, 
all the mentioned locations with others were aban- 
doned owing to the condition of the treasury. 

In closing this chapter, we can well recall when, 
in 1846, the first telegraph office was estabhshed in 
the North American Hotel, where the Brunswick 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 169 

now stands. At the time we boys heartily enjoyed 
a story of a shoemaker Hving along the Hne on East 
Chestnut Street. Having made a pair of boots for 
a customer, and not knowing the best or the quickest 
way of delivering them, he concluded to send them 
over the wire. So, mounting the pole, over the cable 
he hung them. During the night, came an Irish 
laddy, who, seeing the boots by the hght of the 
moon, took off his own, making the exchange. 
Bright and early the morning following, the shoe- 
maker, in glancing up, saw what his heart could 
most desire. Calling his Betsy, he exclaimed, "My 
customer has received the new boots, sending the 
old to the shoemaker to be mended." 

And now, to close this somewhat rambhng chapter 
finally : 

Story of a Brussels Carpet 

People who knew the subject of our sketch best, 
declared that he had been born with a "veil" over 
his face; could see spirits prowHng round in anyone 
or all of the old graveyards he was in the habit of 
visiting when the spell was on, usually at the time 
of the full of the moon. Be this as it may, he was 
an eccentric character, belonging to one of the first 
famihes, and in many ways respected, not to over- 
look his whims and caprices. 

For years he had hved a bachelor, for the reason, 
no doubt, that few of the town girls were willing 
to marry a spiritualist. At last, however, he was 
unfortunate enough to marry a lady of his own age, 
self minded in conducting household affairs. It was 

13 



170 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

shortly after the marriage knot had been tied that 
their troubles began in the selecting of a parlor 
carpet. From store to store they went their way, 
looking over the various patterns and designs, 
with the husband selecting one, the wife another. 
But, as the head of the family had to do the paying, 
his opinion prevailed, and within a few days his 
own selection was spread out on the parlor floor. 
With this, all might have gone well but for a way 
he had of taking his wife three times daily, in his 
endeavor to convince her into acknowledging that 
his own selection was not to be questioned. 

Being a lady of fine sensibilities, easily aroused, 
every time she took in its shades and designs, it 
brought on a nervous spell, finally resulting in her 
remains being laid to rest in one of the cemeteries. 
With the burial ceremonies over, two things happened 
diu-ing the same evening. The first, a bunch of 
medical students had gone in search of a "stiff" 
that had been "planted" the same day in the same 
graveyard, but, as the sequel will show, owing to a 
misunderstanding on the part of the colored gentle- 
man who had been engaged to disinter the remains, 
something happened. 

Feeling the need of a prescription, the same evening 
the widower had occasion to enter a doctor's office. 
For a time he sat alone, awaiting the physician's 
arrival. Becoming impatient, he turned up the jet, 
when, glancing at the floor, his eyes instinctively 
took in the identical carpet over which all the 
trouble had occurred in his own home. The longer 
he glanced it over the more convinced he became 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 171 

that if it was not the same it was one off the same 
sample. 

At last, disturbed in mind, soul and body, he 
reached over and picked up a medical journal. 
Opening its pages, the first to attract his attention 
was a large size engraving, around which stood a 
half dozen students, witnessing an operation for 
some internal complaint. 

At last, the door to the dissecting room opened, 
with the head of old Mose, the doctor's trusty, 
peering through the crevice. "Boss," said he, "jis' 
hab a leetle patience, de docto' am jis gone out fur 
de sexton ub de graveyard, seein' de students be 
misleadin' des chile in gittin' de wrong stiff." With 
this, the door closed, leaving the patient in a more 
perplexed state of mind than ever. 

Instead of passing out for a breath of fresh air to 
restore his perfect equihbrium, he strolled round 
the room, inspecting the numerous bottles filled 
with this, that and the other, any one of whose 
contents might have acted as a sedative in reheving 
his nervousness. At last, his hand coming in con- 
tact with the knob of the door leading to the dis- 
secting room, the door flew wide open, but there 
was not any Mose in evidence. Instead, to his 
horror, under a white spread on a table rested, as 
he could only think, the body of his departed wife 
and helpmate. Tiptoeing his way forward, he 
quietly raised the sheet when, to his everlasting 
surprise, there was the face of her whom he had 
tormented while in the flesh. Recovering all that 
was mortal of himself, backward he moved, closing 



172 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

the door after him. With the veil over his face, 
obHvious to even liis own existence, he fell back into 
a chair in the farthest corner of the doctor's office, 
lost to the world, its sights and sounds. 

It was while in tliis h;>i)notic condition of mental 
disturbance that the door leading to the street 
opened, admitting the physician with the sexton 
by his side, and too much excited to notice the 
forlorn spirituahst, too much under the influence of 
what had occurred to utter a word. 

Rusliing to the dissecting room door, he called: 
"Mose, Mose, you infernal villain, anyone called 
during the doctor's absence?" 

"Only one gemem, boss; an' him I tell dat ye 
hed jis gone after der sexton to be remobin' de body 
frum de dissectin' table." 

*'You told him what you tell me? Well, as back 
to the graveyard must go the body, swing it over 
your shoulder, and take it out the alleyway and 
dump it into the cart waiting. And Mose, if you 
expect to hve a happy hfe in this world and be 
forgiven in the next, keep yom* tongue from wobbhng ; 
for, if the widower spirituahst discovers the mistake 
we'll both land in jail sooner or later. Now do as 
you're told." And out the alleyway went the body, 
covered with the white spread. 

And now, as to what followed after the physician 
had time to pull himself together. 

Dropping into a chair after turning the gas lower, 
he began to sohloquize, "Hope old Mose and the 
sexton get the spuituaHst's wife's body replaced 
before the morrow when the chances are he'll be 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 173 

there in the graveyard holding communion with 
her spirit over the misunderstanding in the purchase 
of the parlor carpet. Then, the rascally Mose! 
which of my patients could it have been that he no 
doubt frightened away by teUing him what may yet 
be causing all kind of trouble, with the loss of my 
profession!" 

With this, in stepped one of his students, who, 
dropping into a chair by his side, exclaimed, "Why 
so pensive? Don't worry, I've just returned from 
the graveyard, and all is now in apple-pie order, 
with the sexton sworn to secrecy. And so, before 
making a hurried visit to the plot I made it my 
business to call on the widower to prevent him from 
dropping in on you at this most inopportune evening, 
understanding that he needed something to stiffen 
up his nerves after the ordeal through which he has 
just passed." 

"In the name of high heaven, man," — ^jumping 
to his feet Uke a rocket, — "I've just been thinking 
that in all probability the person who called during 
my temporary absence might, after all, have been 
the widower! And to think that my thickheaded 
Mose got to teUing him of the mistake in getting 
the wrong 'stiff,' as he called it! Confound him, 
I'll have him arrested as a 'body snatcher'!" 

"Doctor, Hsten to reason. Do not make a dunce 
of yourself. Lock him up in the dissecting room for 
a week, until the storm blows over. And so, to 
make sure that the widower doesn't learn what's 
been going on, I'll take him on a visit for a week 
or two to the Seashore, where he can be looking up 



174 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

another wife! How does this strike your crazy 
bone?" And with this morsel of comfort, the 
student went his way to meet a party of others of 
the profession, to indulge themselves over a bottle 
of Mum in the lucky escape they had made. 

Sitting alone, as the physician thought himself, 
in the quiet of the soHtude, all at once came the 
sound of deep breathing, which, falling on the 
doctor's ears, caused him to glance in the direction 
from which the sound came. Recovering himself 
almost instantly, he saw that there, leaning back in a 
corner chair, sat his widower friend, in a semi- 
conscious condition. 

"In the name of the immortal George Washing- 
ton, man, how came you here!" Placing his index 
finger upon his pulse and his ear to his heart, he 
tried, by a subterfuge, to ward off what he had 
reason to feel was but to part with the secret that 
had thus far been held sub rosa. 

Running his hand first down the right side, then 
to the left, he exclaimed, "When did the attack 
first come on.^ Why, my dear widower, you've an 
aggravated attack of bowel trouble, and the sooner 
you have your insides examined, the sooner you'll 
be reheved from following your departed over to 
the graveyard. Do you understand.^ And so, go 
with me to the dissecting room." 

Rising slowly from his chair, he gradually re- 
covered from his bewilderment and asked, "And 
who, doctor, is the corpse you have lying over on 
the dissecting table, covered with a white spread? 
It's my own wife's remains; I saw her with my own 



GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS 175 

eyes lying on the table! Oh! oh! oh! I can see her 
face at this very moment and as plainly as I see the 
Brussels of the same pattern as my own spread out 
on your office-floor!" 

"You're under a delusion, and if you want to be 
convinced that you're only resting under one of your 
former spirituahstic spells, come with me!" And 
together they went their way to the dissecting room 
to find the table empty. 

On their return, it began to dawn upon the 
physician's mind that his widower friend had actually 
seen with his own eyes what has been described. 

After a reconcihation had been effected, with the 
promise that nothing be said, the widower turned 
and asked, "How came you by the same brand of 
carpet, the cause of all your friends' tribulations?" 

"Ha! ha! that is easily answered. Calling on 
the merchant the same day you had purchased your 
own, I concluded to buy the remaining remnant, as 
it fitted this, my front office, as you see." 

And this ends the story of the Brussels carpet. 



CHAPTER XIII 

Forcing the Water from the Old City Mill 
INTO THE City 

It was on Washington's Birthday, February 
twenty-second, 1837, thsit the joyful news swept 
like a tornado among the people of "Old Lancaster" 
that, on the opening of the plugs, came plunging 
water from the Conestoga River! 

For just one hundred and seven years, dating from 
1730 down to 1837, the inhabitants of Lancaster 
were compelled to rely on pumps, wells and springs 
for their water supply for domestic and other pur- 
poses. With the town surrounded, as may be said, 
with an over abundance, it had been allowed to go 
its way to the Susquehanna, sometimes at flood 
tide, at others peacefully in its circuitous path, to 
be utilized here and there in driving the wheels of a 
grist mill. 

The canal for a time had served a certain purpose. 
This, with the incoming of the railroad, gave en- 
couragement to business men in the hope of making 
Lancaster commercially and industrially a greater 
center of trade and commerce. But what induce- 
ment had the city to offer the promoters of in- 
dustries in the greatest of all commodities, a plenti- 
ful supply of water? 

As far back as 1789 Burgess Hand, in his admir- 

176 



FORCING WATER FROM OLD CITY MILL 177 

able address to senators and representatives of the 
United States, had made mention of the Conestoga's 
millions of gallons going to waste yearly. To the 
average mind at the time the raising of the water 
into the town was considered an impossibiUty. Nor 
was General Hand to live to see his favorite project 
put into successful operation. 

At last, in 1825, a few of the town's citizens began 
to agitate the question, but with the unfortunate 
experience of the tidewater canal, and later the 
raihoad project, another delay of a half score years 
followed. If the Conestoga had been higher than 
"College Hill," the problem might have been solved 
with Httle difficulty. And yet, in case of an ex- 
tended downpour, the dwellers in the lower parts 
had good cause to be thankful that the whole of the 
city rested on higher ground than the winding Cones- 
toga. 

Nothing occurred until January 4, 1831, when 
the clerk of Common Councils presented a petition 
to the Select branch, signed by a number of the 
leading citizens. The resolution accompanying the 
petition ran: "And whereas, the only practical 
mode of accomphshing this important object would 
be to procure an act of the Legislature authorizing 
the issue of stock, with the proviso that the city of 
Lancaster shall have the privilege at any time within 
a given number of years of redeeming the said stock. 
It is beheved that it would become valuable, and 
that capitalists would invest their money in it. 
But as it is not in the power of the city at present 
to raise the necessary funds, and as it would be 



178 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

unwise to put it out of the power to possess them- 
selves of the stock when they could raise the means, 
the mode now suggested would secure the certain 
means of accomphshing this valuable pubhc im- 
provement, with necessary security of making it a 
city stock in course of time — 

"Wherefore, Resolved, that a committee, to con- 
sist of two members from each branch, be appointed 
to prepare a paper to the Legislature, asking the 
incorporation of a 'stock' company for the purpose 
of introducing running water into the city of Lan- 
caster. 

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Mayor 
to call a town meeting some evening next week, that 
the citizens may take such measures as they may 
deem necessary." 

The town meeting was held authorizing Councils 
to employ a competent engineer. Rut again the 
matter was postponed on account of the cost of 
the Philadelphia and Columbia Raihoad. 

However, with the coming of the year 1836, a 
resolution was offered in both branches of Councils, 
"That a committee be appointed to ascertain the 
most practical place and the probable cost, with 
power to employ an engineer if they deem it neces- 
sary, and report at the next meeting." On the 
assembhng of Councils, great satisfaction was 
manifested as the result of another pubhc meeting 
by the citizens held on the Friday evening previous. 

Among the leading advocates were George W. 
Rarton, J. R. Montgomery, John F. Steinman, 
WiUiam Coleman, Jacob Rathfon, Amos Elhnaker 



FORCING WATER FROM OLD CITY MILL 179 

and Reah Frazer, embued with the spirit of ad- 
vancement. They constituted the committee. 

It was forthwith resolved by both Councils, 
"That it shall be the committees' duty when they 
shall have completed this task to call a meeting of 
citizens and submit a written report." 

At a meeting February 18, 1836, the committee's 
report was read in Councils as follows: "The under- 
signed committee of Councils and citizens respect- 
fully report that the accompanying communication 
from General Mitchell contains all the information 
they have been able to obtain in relation to the 
subject with which they were charged." 

Here follows the engineer's report : 

" Gentlemen: 

"Having been employed by your committee to 
make the necessary examination, I immediately 
proceeded to the execution of that duty. The 
surveys have been confined exclusively to the 
waters of the Conestoga River, and the result en- 
ables me to say that an abundant supply of good 
water may be obtained from that source at a com- 
paratively small expense; the only difficulty which 
presents itself is the price which may be demanded 
for water power. Five points have been examined, 
from all of which an abundant supply may be ob- 
tained by the agency of water power to be derived 
from the Conestoga. If, however, the Corporate 
Authorities of the city of Lancaster should not be 
able to make an equitable arrangement for any one 
of those water powers, recourse is still left, and 
that is to erect a stationary steam engine on the 



180 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

*Poor House' farm, which would not interfere with 
the Mill powers on the river except so far as the 
quantity of water subtracted from the stream might 
affect the interests of individuals immediately below 
the place from whence it would be taken out. 

"It has been found that the high ground on the 
eastern part of the city near Ross's corner is suf- 
ficiently elevated as to supply the whole city by 
constructing a reservoir at that place; and from 
that point all the surveys diverged. As this report 
is only to communicate facts and not opinions, it 
is only necessary to furnish the committee with a 
brief review of those surveys. 

"First: From Swartz's mill, the difference of 
levels between the reservoir and surface of the dam 
is 161-8 feet and 265 chains; of this distance 74 
chains might be made an open race at a cost of 
$1,900. The elevation of the hill is 99-2 feet in a 
distance of 660 feet, being 62-6 feet below the 
reservoir; and the whole length of pipe would be 
13,266 feet, which at 1.87 per foot would amount, 
including the race, to $26,773.75. 

"Second: From Demuth's mill — Difference be- 
tween the level of reservoir and surface of dam 
170-3 feet, and length of pipe, 6,000 feet, at 1.87 
per foot, would amount to $11,261.25. 

"Third: From Swarr's mill — Difference of levels 
between reservoir and surface of dam, 1.75-2 feet, 
and length of pipe required, 5,444 feet, at same per 
foot would cost $10,395.00. 

"Fourth: From Rock below Humes' factory- 
Difference of level, 182-2; length of pipe required, 




OLD BUILDINGS IN LANCASTER CITY 




OLD WATER W0RKS,1BUILT 1836-7 



FORCING WATER FROM OLD CITY MILL 181 

at same cost $13,612.50. This *Rock' is elevated 
above the pool of the dam, 153.8 feet, or 28 feet 
below the reservoir. 

"Fifth: From Coleman's saw mill — Difference of 
levels between reservoir and surface of dam, 188-2 
feet; and length of pipe required, 11,814 feet, at 
same price would be, $22,151.25. As the different 
modes which may be employed will vary the cost 
considerably, no calculation has been made of the 
mere cost of laying pipe — from which the committee 
will be enabled to make a relative estimate of the 
most economical point, after which a more careful 
examination should be made. No doubt exists, 
however, of the entire practicabiUty of introducing 
an abundant supply of water from any one of the 
points herein described : 

"Respectfully Submitted: 

"W. B. Mitchell." 

The query for the interested to determine is' 
Where stood Swartz's, Demuth's and Swarr's m\\ls» 
Humes' factory, Coleman's saw mill and Ross's 
corner? All has changed so completely on both 
sides of the Conestoga since the year 1836, as to 
make it almost impossible for the descendants of 
the then owners to locate these industries. 

As we glance back to the year 1825 when this 
project was being discussed in councils, it can 
scarcely be imagined that a dozen years were to 
elapse before the dwellers were to see the water 
flowing through the pipes and out of the plugs in 
the city. But when, on the 22d of February, 
Washington's birthday, 1837, the open plugs began 



182 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

to pour out either clear or muddy water, praise took 
the place of censure which from time to time had 
been heaped upon the heads of the committee. 
Nor was the ever faithful mayor, John Mathiot, to 
escape until the time came, rendering the project a 
success. 

As to the first cost of this enterprise, the amount 
varies, running as high as $106,000. Again it would 
be an endless task to determine how much more it 
has since taken for change and repairs down to the 
present day. But with all the outlay who would 
think of parting with this legacy handed down by 
the wise men of nearly a centiuy ago? If the first 
cost was over one hundred thousand when the 
city's population was not over six thousand, surely 
the people of "New Lancaster," have not cause to 
complain of a few additional hundred thousands 
provided there be no more bursted reservoirs. Of 
one thing, we have clear drinking water, which in 
itself is a godsend to young and old, rich and poor. 
And so say we all. 

One matter should not be overlooked, although 
it may have been by the engineer, namely, that the 
town had not covered the highest points. But with 
him and Councils, " sufficient unto the day was the 
evil thereof." 

It will be recalled that in 1836 it was a question 
whether the city undertake the work or through a 
company. Acting as these wise men did, it was no 
doubt their opinion that water should not be sub- 
ject to controversy as between a corporation and 
consumers. Only once since, and that about a 



FORCING WATER FROM OLD CITY MILL 183 

quarter of a century ago, was the Water Committee 
met with a proposition to purchase the water works. 
But the promoter of the private company was soon 
to learn through the press that, under no circum- 
stances, would the "plant" be allowed to pass from 
the city's control. 

But how with the gas company, which came a 
few years later? With this people had their alter- 
native, either to use it or continue the use of candles. 
What they could not manufacture they could buy 
in the shape of oil. Even the city could continue 
to hght the streets without the use of gas, if an 
extortion should follow. 

It is well then for the citizens of Lancaster to 
be occasionally reminded of the many blessings they 
possess, and that they came only by degrees, and 
at a time when the town was not supplied with large 
industrial plants able to manufacture their own 
pumping machinery. Again, before the National 
Government began to pour out its greenbacks, with 
state bank currency there was much uncertainty 
as to which notes were genuine, which either counter- 
feit or at a discount. Again, along in the middle 
thirties, hard times had struck the country, owing 
to what had led to the panic of 1837. 

If, then, the contents of this chapter will start 
people to thinking "straight," the time consumed in 
setting it forth from musty records is not by any 
means time wasted by the chronicler. 



CHAPTER XIV 

The Ambition of Lancaster to Become the 
Capital of the State 

It is worthy of mention that all cities, and wher- 
ever located, have striven to become the center of 
trade and commerce; some succeeding, owing to 
their having greater natural advantages than others. 
Nature's products have gone further in the building 
up of a city than man's efforts. In many instances, 
what Ues beneath the soil has been more conducive 
to the influx of population than the products raised 
from the upper soil. The discovery of coal, oil and 
gas in its natural state, have gone further in the 
erection of a city than all of mankind's efforts com- 
bined. Without that which for centuries had been 
hidden concealed, the ground upon which the city 
stands might have remained a desert to all intent 
and purposes. 

Our town, as far back as 1787, actually aspired 
to become the home of the national government. 
The goodly burgesses never for a moment considered 
that their inland town was lacking in water-com- 
munication in connecting it with such other cities 
as have smce sprung into existence. However, 
during the Revolution the borough of Lancaster 
had the distinguished honor of housing the Congress 
of the United States in its precipitate flight from 

184 



LANCASTER'S AMBITION TO BECOME CAPITAL 185 

Philadelphia. But it was only for one short day 
when, with bag and baggage, the senators and 
representatives hurried themselves off to the town 
of York, after settling up their bills with the tavern- 
keepers, who no doubt were greatly grieved over 
their sudden departure. 

As has already been stated, from 1799 to 1812, 
Lancaster prided itself on being the capital of 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. How it came 
to be outvoted by senators and representatives 
for the city of Harrisburg, the minutes of the bur- 
gesses fail to state. What history makes perfectly 
clear is that, along in the fifties of the past century, 
councils did make a determined effort to win back 
the coveted prize. And all in the face of the fact 
that at the close of 1812, the legislature stole itself 
away without first having paid the burgesses the 
five pounds for the use of a ten-plate stove. By 
whom or where it was manufactured, no mention 
is made on the "Corporation Book." The chances 
are it was cast by Baron Stiegel before he went into 
hopeless bankruptcy. But more of the stove later. 

Ever since the borough was founded by James 
Hamilton, down even to the present day, good local 
government has been the ambition of all progressive 
citizens. Legislatiu-es have overthrown one charter 
after another, with the same discouraging results. 
This failm-e is country-wide, not to overlook the 
fact that the people rule or at least are supposed 
to in their individual or corporate capacity. How 
many charters Lancaster has labored under since 
1742, only to pray to be reheved for that of another, 
the Legislative Digest is supposed to show. 

14 



186 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

The present charter under which Lancaster of 
today is working must surely be a model of perfec- 
tion, otherwise our city would not be singled out 
as among the very few that have not become third 
class cities! But to refer once more to the starting 
of the townstead. We are not so sure that all 
might not have turned out better if James Hamilton, 
in handing over his plot of two miles square to the 
bm-gesses in 1742, had settled himself down as one 
of the leading citizens, instead of entrusting its 
future to paid agents in seUing out town lots on the 
ground-rent plan. As for the poor burgesses, they 
did not have the money; this was forwarded to 
founder Hamilton at his home in Philadelphia. 
And so like "Topsy," the town grew largely of its 
own momentiun, and so it has been growing ever 
since! But at the time the village was converted 
into a borough, James Hamilton did what he thought 
best for his own interests. And for this gratuity 
the burgesses were gratefully thankful, as their 
acceptance of the charter shows. 

Of course, at the time the twenty-five hundred 
acres were not an "Eden" flowing with milk and 
honey, such as it has since become in this twentieth 
century, affording its fifty thousand dwellers all the 
comforts of home fife. The greater portion was still 
covered with virgin forest. Nor can it be said at 
the time the town was laid out that it was an ideal 
spot on which to build a city. Could its former 
status be contrasted with what it is today, how 
entirely different would it seem! 

The chronicler can only regret there is not any 



LANCASTER'S AMBITION TO BECOME CAPITAL 187 

picture to be thrown out on the moving-picture 
screen, conveying to the sightseer an adequate con- 
ception of how the village looked at the time the 
first court house stood in Center Square. The 
only etching by a local artist was made years before 
the camera came to do what the dehneator could 
not do with pencil or quill. 

However, in nearly every other hne of trade, with 
the exception of the building up of a city, men 
of experience in their own particular fine, with a 
thorough knowledge of what business requires, are 
employed. If, at the close of the year there is a 
loss instead of a profit, the cause is determined and 
the remedy appfied. But how altogether different 
with the management of a city.^ Were there danger 
of this or that town going into bankruptcy, things 
might be different. But in few instances the 
country over has this been the case, and for the 
reason that the taxpayer is always to be counted 
on to foot the bills. But where under our system 
of local government is the remedy to be found .►^ 
Only in the voters themselves! However, it is the 
old, old story — what is everybody's business is 
nobody's, except those who make the running of a 
city a business. And yet, up to the present time, 
no better system of local government has been 
di vised than that "of the people, by the people and 
for the people." 

Has it ever occurred to you to consider how many 
hundreds of untrained local legislators have taken a 
hand in the building up of our city since 1742 P 
Merchants, ministers, doctors, tradesmen, editors. 



188 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

teachers, some with means, others without, all, how- 
ever, ready to serve their constituents as "town- 
builders" in their humble capacity! Every young 
man with poUtical ambition or "pull" to be grati- 
fied, thinks himself capable of becoming a council- 
man, no doubt with the prospect of earning a salaried 
position by faithful service at times as a ward worker. 
We have known men who have never read the 
town's "Digest" to feel themselves amply qualified 
to help govern a city of fifty thousand. The 
chronicler knows all about it, having served as one 
of the "city fathers" — at times considering himself 
the whole "push." What every city needs is a 
school in which local city government is taught as a 
science. And as attendants, it might be well for 
some of the younger members of the Chamber of 
Commerce to become students. But why enlarge 
on what everybody knows? What is common to one 
city has its counterpart in others, each trying to 
work out its destiny according to certain estabhshed 
rules, customs and regulations. 

It would be folly to say that all self government 
has been a failure, and that all councilmen and 
chief magistrates were unfitted for the office. There 
was one mayor deserving of special mention. Dur- 
ing the darkest days of the city's financial distress, 
Mayor Mathiot never wavered in well-doing, ex- 
tending all through the eleven years of his incmn- 
bency in office. Elected in 1831, he was chosen 
annually until 1842, the longest of any of the twenty- 
five mayors down to the present day. 

To show the love and respect Councils had for this 



LANCASTER'S AMBITION TO BECOME CAPITAL 189 

plain, unobtrusive defender of the city's rights, it 
was at a meeting, January 23, 1843, that the follow- 
ing resolution of respect was unanimously passed 
by both the Select and Common branches: 

"Whereby, By the death of John Mathiot, Es- 
quire, which melancholy event took place last 
evening, it becomes the mournful duty to take such 
action as the circumstance may require in order to 
evidence their desires to give expression to this 
interposition of Divine Providence, 

"Therefore, be it resolved that, in the decease of 
John Mathiot, late Mayor, we lament the loss of 
one, whether a pubhc-spirited citizen, or a faithful, 
indefatigable officer, or an upright man who will 
long be remembered by his fellow citizens — 

"Resolved, that each member wear a crepe on 
his left arm for thirty days as a testimonial of our 
sincere regret at the loss of an honest pubhc officer, 
a valuable citizen, a good man!" 

Referring to the minutes of the School Board, of 
which he was president, similar resolutions were 
passed in his honor. 

And why, it may be asked, was Mayor Mathiot 
held in such high esteem? Because for the trying 
times through which he had passed during the eleven 
years of his administration. For, at no time before 
or since, were difficulties of greater moment to be 
encountered. The city at the time was struggling 
to become something more than an inland town 
known as the largest in the United States. 

The Conestoga navigation project had started 
under the brightest prospects to prove only a 



190 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

financial loss both to the city and private investors 
from start to its final wind-up. After this came the 
raihoad with its multiplicity of worries, running 
through five long years with debt piling up with 
no means of providing for its liquidation. Following 
came the water works, with its endless disappoint- 
ments and sleepless nights for Mayor Mathiot and 
councilmen, coworkers. But during all these trying 
times, as the minutes have shown, these faithful 
city officials never dropped by the wayside dis- 
couraged. 

While the chronicler at times may have given 
expression to what might seem like fault-finding, 
it has not been so much against the individual as 
against a system common to all cities where the 
people rule. They may go wrong at times, but 
usually they get what is coming to them, according 
to their deserts. 

Many things occurred between the thirties and 
forties which thus far have been passed over for 
matters of greater importance. As pages of the 
records are reviewed, it is amusing to note how fre- 
quently the humorous will find expression by some 
member who has a personal grievance. Here fol- 
lows a few; the first, a resolution placing a tax of 
twenty dollars on the venders of lottery tickets, 
the proceeds of which, as explained by the author 
of the resolution, was to go for a councilmanic 
"spread." Except then for the humor displayed, 
it might have become a law. Another to meet 
with defeat was a tax on tollgates within the city. 
This measure also went down to defeat, owing to 



LANCASTER'S AMBITION TO BECOME CAPITAL 191 

the fact that certain pike stock was owned by 
councilmen. But of all the many vexatious ques- 
tions sure to crop out at times was an ordinance 
prohibiting the running of cows, goats, geese, ducks, 
and, last though not least, dogs on the pubhc streets. 
However, as many of the canines were owned by 
this or that member, self preservation came in for 
first consideration. Of how many escaped being 
consigned to the dog-pound, no record was kept. 
It is really surprising how readily a fight will occur 
over a dog! One might kick the owner, but never 
his dog I And as it not infrequently happened, the 
poorer a family, the greater the number of dogs. 
Nor have conditions greatly changed! 

It used to be a common saying among the super- 
stitious that the whining of a dog along in the mid- 
night was a sure sign that something was to happen, 
and happen something did; for, on reading the paper 
the next morning, the reader's eyes fell upon an item 
that a certain man had actually died somewhere in 
the city! 

Cats, as many can yet recall, of all colors, shapes 
and sizes, were held sacred on account of their tones 
so closely resembling those of the human. At the 
present day their musical midnight refrains are 
highly appreciated, on account of their resemblance 
to the tingle and jingle of the phonograph. No 
doubt it is for this reason that all well-to-do families 
have either a phonograph or a victrola. In our 
boyhood girls were content to own an accordeon; 
the boys, a jewsharp or a fiddle; this is why the 
chronicler at quite an early age became a fiddler, 
if you must know! 



192 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

As for bats, swallows and owls making church 
steeples their daily haunts, at times it was a question 
among boys whether steeples were made for these 
nightly tormentors, or owls, bats and swallows for 
the steeples! We remember how, before the stone 
church of the "First Reformed" was dismantled in 
1851, milHons of these pestiferous bats would go 
their way in paying their respects to certain of the 
town famines. And, as it happened, with what 
delight they were received by some of the gentler 
sex ! But as people want to be entertained, why deny 
them the pleasure? 

In drawing comparison between conditions of 
past times and the present, the chronicler, it is to 
be hoped, will not be considered a plagiarist by 
quoting from the author of "The Good Old Days" 
a few of his conclusions : 

"There was a time when farmers' wants were 
few and simple. Now he gets up with the lark, 
works fourteen hours a day to support an extrava- 
gant family in sending them to the cities to be 
making out of them gentlemen of leisure. As for 
the city official, he reaches his office at ten in the 
morning, takes two hours for luncheon, closes his 
day's work at three-thirty, takes advantage of all 
hohdays by going a-fishing; jumps into his 'daddy's' 
automobile once a week to overlook the * old man's ' 
farm. Their usual place of meeting during the 
winter is at the 'club,' where they talk over how 
many acres should be planted in this, that or the 
other. If the season prove favorable the credit is 
claimed for themselves. If, however, a long con- 



LANCASTER'S AMBITION, TO BECOME CAPITAL 193 

tinuous draught occur, the blame is laid on the 
tenant-farmers. 

"Back in my boyhood," continues the author, 
"a man had to be pretty sick to remain away from 
church. Now, a headache is sufficient of an excuse 
to satisfy his conscience, while nothing short of a 
well-developed case of appendicitis, or tubercular 
meningitis will deter him from attending a game 
of golf on the 'Country Club' grounds during each 
Sabbath afternoon. He will take his children to 
the Sunday-school door, and then go his way to sit 
for hours in the boiling sun viewing a ball game, 
without the slightest fatigue. When a person got 
sick in the olden days, he did not have to be carried 
to a hospital; now, a fellow with an aching tooth 
will spend a month there to be entertained by the 
single nurses. If a confirmed bachelor-invalid, he 
usually comes out a new-made man. 

"However, if the 'old man' happened to die in 
his own home, his wife did not 'go broke' in ordering 
a hot-house of flowers, a long string of carriages and 
a hundred honorary pall-bearers to give dignity to 
the occasion. He was lowered into the tomb by 
loving, tender hands, and not by paid pohcemen. 
And his friends did not hurry away, leaving the 
sexton do the planting." 

The foregoing somewhat personal "flings" recafls 
to the chronicler a familiar saying of the once-upon- 
a-time Harry Stiff, who never buried people, always 
planted them, and so deep down as to prevent 
their being exhumed. He was given to saying that 



194 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

more marriages were made among widowers and 
widows in a graveyard than in the parlors of the 
best-regulated famihes. 

One story that comes vividly to mind was told 
by "Harry." "For a month after his wife's demise, 
regularly twice a day, morning and evening, the 
half-broken-hearted widower could be seen leaning 
over his departed's mound, weeping bitter tears, 
as he placed a bouquet of geraniums thereon. As 
it so happened, along about the same time would 
come a lone widow, equally bent on the same mission, 
in paying tribute to her once loving partner in deep, 
earnest affection. 

"As both plots lay close, one beside the other, 
and as both mourners met at times on their errand 
of mercy, it was only natural that they should come 
within speaking distance; and come together they 
did with the following result : 

"Looking up, the widower exclaimed, wiping away 
a tear, *It's a sad misfortune for a man in the 
blossom of his youth to be left alone in the world 
with a family of children to be cared for.' To this, 
came the widow's lament, *It truly is, for hkewise, 
it's my misfortune to be left also alone with a 
family.' Then drawing nearer, the widower, placing 
his hand on her shoulder, gives way to another 
spasm of grief." The result — as the grave-digger 
ended his story — "both went away, arm in arm, 
and nevermore were they seen bending over the 
tombs of their loved ones." 

But to refer once more to the writer of the " Good 
Old Days": "Let us visit some old churchyard, 
where loved ones of early days are sleeping their 



LANCASTER'S AMBITION TO BECOME CAPITAL 195 

last dreamless sleep, each in his windowless place of 
rest. Tired of the day's wanderings, you sit your- 
self down on the green grass on the family plot. 
The last rays of the setting sun are tinging the hill- 
tops with their mellow light and bathing the land- 
scape in a flood of golden glory. Perhaps for the 
first time in years you permit memory to have its 
full sway. Beautiful 'Isle of Memory,' Hghted by 
the morning-star of life, studded with jewels of 
hope, warmed with motherly and fatherly affection, 
and watered from perennial springs of joy; wreathed 
in garlands of everblooming flowers and beset with 
diamonds of peace, contentment, love! Oh, beauti- 
ful * Isle of Memory,' where roses bloom by the door, 
where robins sing among the apple blossoms and 
where bright waters ripple into eternal melodies!" 

And now, dear reader, while the above sentiments 
so beautifully expressed are not of the chronicler's 
conception, they iUustrate what he has many a time 
witnessed in this or that cemetery, with loved ones 
bending over a mound in placing a few flowers 
thereon — then silently go their way. 

Oldtime stories may be occasionaUy indulged in 
by the thoughtless, and yet there is a certain some- 
thing about a graveyard that admits of no levity on 
the part of the humorously disposed. It is the most 
sacred, the most beloved spot on God's broad domain; 
no place for idle thoughts; no place to indulge in 
frivohty. 

And as the chapter closes, it is with the thought 
of one who has just been laid to rest. We knew H. S. 
Williamson intimately as a devoted husband, a loving 



196 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

father, a generous giver, beloved by the boys and 
girls for his many Httle acts of charity. His last 
act was to present four Httle tots each a rag doll. 
And the day before his demise, as he related the 
story of the happiness given them, he exclaimed, 
"It is the little things one does that give the 
greater pleasure." But as Harry is no more, may 
his memory ever remain fresh and green in the 
hearts of his hosts of friends as one of God's bene- 
factors. 

All at once we are reminded that this is "Decora- 
tion" day with the old and young veterans going 
their way from cemetery to cemetery, there to lay 
a few flowers on the mounds of the departed ! It is 
a beautiful custom perpetuated as the outgrowth of 
the war of the sixties, and later that of the Spanish 
American, even to this, the present great European 
conflict. May the day never come when it will be 
necessary for the "Grand Army" to lay garlands of 
roses on this or that patriotic boy's tomb ! To close 
this chapter, may the clouds which hang heavy 
over the nations engaged in cruel war, soon be 
dispelled by the sunshine of hope for a greater and 
brighter future ! 



CHAPTER XV 

Move for a Court of Appeal. The Taxpayers' 
Redress 

We are still turning over the pages of the council- 
manic records of the thirties. An important epoch, 
this decade, with the city trying to move forward 
against obstacles almost insurmountable ! The town 
at the time was full of "puUbacks," and the cry went 
forth, "As it was good enough for our ancestors, 
it ought to be good enough for our descendants." 
The moneyed men of the city seemed to be almost a 
unit against what they called extravagance on the 
part of councils in their appropriations. Salaries 
were cut to the minimum. And as for street laborers, 
few except those engaged at the water plant could 
find employment. Well had the under employees 
cause to grumble; but what signified grumbling. 
The time for trades unions had not as yet arrived. 
No walking delegate was to be seen going through 
work-shops as agitator, in banding men together for 
their own self preservation. In fact, such a move 
as a walk-out was almost unheard of during the 
thirties and forties of the past century. 

Prior to the action of councils April 7, 1835, there 
was no redress for the tax-payer except to step into 
the treasurer's office and pay such taxes as the 
duphcate contained. As all good things come to 

197 



198 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

those who have the patience to await the hour of 
their coming, so was passed the ordinance creating 
a "Court of Appeal." 

While this "court" was intended to equahze and 
readjust property valuation, for a time it had quite 
the opposite effect, giving those with a "pohtical 
pull" with the men constituting the court the power 
of lowering the assessment of their favorites, and 
putting up that of their political enemies to the 
top notch. 

To bear out this statement, think of taxes from 
real estate within the town of two miles square, 
producing but six thousand dollars at the close of 
the year 1835. Evidently the assessor was abroad 
in "Old Lancaster," and abroad he has been ever 
since as one of the city's necessary evils. 

We are now to reach conditions leading to the 
panic of 1837, when specie payment, discontinued 
by the banks, compelled councils to issue what to- 
day might be called "shinplasters." At a meeting 
of councils, June 8, 1838, the committee appointed 
to confer with the different banks of the city relating 
to the redemption of the city's loan, in bills of one 
dollar or less, reported "that the matter be sub- 
mitted to the respective boards of bank directors 
for their decision." Here follows their reply: 

"However anxious your committee are to aid in 
the circulation of metaUic immediately, recent indi- 
cations of a general resumption of the small bills 
induce the banks to withhold a recommendation 
under the impression that when the banks fully 
resume, the small bills may be withdrawn from 



MOVE FOR A COURT OF APPEAL 199 

circulation with less inconvenience to the com- 
munity." 

The following proposition came from the Lan- 
caster Bank to councils: "Resolved that this bank 
will redeem $5,000 in small notes issued by the 
city of Lancaster under the denomination of one 
dollar in specie, provided that funds be furnished 
in current bank notes by the city to that amount, 
and provided that the city will make provision for 
the further amount of $10,000 of the same issue in 
like manner. This offer was made by order of the 
board. Christian Bachman, Cashier." 

These notes, of denominations of ten, twelve and 
a one half, twenty-five and fifty cent scrip were 
handsomely engraved, one bearing on its face the 
image of the first locomotive; another, three black- 
smiths standing facing an anvil. They bore the 
name "Lancaster City Loan," commonly called 
"Lancaster City Fractional currency." While their 
execution was passable, they were far below the kinds 
of scrip issued by the United States during the con- 
flict between the States. The fault lay not so 
much with the engraver as with the inferior kind of 
paper in use for the purpose. 

Reference to bank-note currency has been made 
to show the stringency of the times during the 
later thirties, not only in Lancaster but in all cities 
of the country. 

These "hard times" had reached floodtide with 
the close of Andrew Jackson's eight years of ad- 
ministration. But comes the query. What occasion 
had the people of Lancaster to complain, with so 



200 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

many improvements going on during the thirties? 
Work there had been on the canal, raihoad and 
water works, but it was not by the manor-born. 
The contractors had brought with them their own 
laborers, at least in the construction of the canal 
and railroad. 

We have scanned the pages of councils for the 
per diem wage paid city employees, both for clerical 
and outside labor. Think of Mayor Mathiot re- 
ceiving $200 per annum, or a total of $2,200 during 
the eleven years of his incumbency in ofl&ce. As 
for employees for street work, fifty, sixty and seventy 
cents constituted pay for twelve hours' work. And 
as for trained mechanics, a dollar a day was the 
rule, and a pretty long day it was ! 

At the close of the year 1839, two years after the 
water works had been completed, came the following 
report: "The whole cost of the water works up to 
this time amounts to $127,086.53," and the amount 
of revenue received from water for the year previous : 

32 dwellings at $7 per annum $224 

79 dwellings at $6 per annum 474 

45 dwellings at $5 per annum 225 

50 pave washes 50 

1 Tavern stabling 28 

1 Tavern stabling 22 

1 Tavern stabling 18 

1 Tavern 28 

2 Taverns 96 

8 Taverns at $12 96 

5 Taverns at $10 50 

4 Taverns at $9 36 

2 factories at $30 60 

Jail and courthouse 30 

The Slaymaker House 30 



MOVE FOR A COURT OF APPEAL 201 

Stable and horse 8 

Brewery 25 

Brewery 20 

Currier shop 20 

Currier shop 5 

1 Bath house, public 50 

9 private baths at $3 27 

3 distilleries 40 

1 distillery 43 

1 distillery 60 

2 Barber shops 10 

2 Hatters at $8 16 

Total revenue, one year $1,791 

Think of only nine private bath tubs in the city 
using Conestoga water and but one pubHc bath 
house ! It is only reasonable to infer that the owner 
of this "public" bath house must have done a 
thriving business, during the summer at least, in 
order to pay his fifty-dollar water tax per annum. 

Whether this pubKc bath was used by both sexes 
the minutes fail to make entirely clear. The most 
reasonable conclusion reached by the chronicler, 
who, as a boy, never Hved in a house with a bathtub, 
is that most boys, as well as man, bathed in the 
Conestoga near the "Big Stump." But this was 
years before all bathers were denied this health- 
giving privilege, with the danger of imbibing all 
kinds of disease germs. 

But even with bathtubs for the women, how did 
they manage to get the Conestoga water to a proper 
temperature during winter for bathing purposes 
without a gas range? We used to know a dweller 
who had a tank on the top of his roof to catch the 
rain water. This he would let. down through a 

15 



202 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

pipe into an improvised bathtub, and all by the 
puUing of a cord. As the story has been told the 
narrator, on one occasion, during the month of 
August, he invited a friend to enjoy a bath, the 
first he had taken since quite a young man. Being 
assured that the temperature was normal, the in- 
vitation was accepted with thanks. The day previ- 
ous, the tank was filled with ice from a nearby ice 
house, bringing the temperature to near the freezing 
point. Entering the tub, the bather was told to 
stand upright, with the assurance that there was no 
danger of his getting a sun-stroke from the effect of 
the sun's rays on the tank above. 

Not to be left entirely alone, one of the leading 
physicians kept within easy distance to witness the 
effect. Within the twinkling of an eye, down came 
the icy cold water hke an avalanche. Frozen! It 
took a half-pint of brandy to thaw the invalid into 
consciousness, and another half-pint to restore him 
to his perfect equilibrium! 

It used to be said that a good story was like old 
wine, the older the more delicious its flavor. How- 
ever, some people prefer the wine to the story, and 
so the reader can take his choice. 

Back in the narrator's boyhood the people used 
to brag of their inland town being the largest in 
the United States! But, by gradual degrees, it be- 
came a back number, at least as to population! 
But what other cities could not take from "Old 
Lancaster" were its religious, social and home life. 
All depends, then, on what advancement means. 
If it means the center of the state's largest in- 



MOVE FOR A COURT OF APPEAL 203 

dustries, ofttimes over-capitalized, with strikes fol- 
lowing one another at stated intervals, then Lan- 
caster has failed to measure up to its sister cities. 
No city can excel in everything. Smoke flowing 
from the tops of furnace-stacks is not at all times 
an indication that the dwellers are getting the most 
out of hfe's comforts. But if they do not, it is 
largely their own fault in not learning the secret of 
how to economize. As a rule, however, the great 
majority of the citizens of Lancaster, while liberal 
in their expenditiu'es, yet manage to lay some- 
thing aside for a rainy day. And it is to the middle 
classes, those who depend upon their daily earnings, 
that the prosperity of our city depends. 

If, then, large industries have been few and far 
between, our smaller ones furnish employment for 
hundreds of young men and girls. By some our 
city has been called a "child-labor" town. Well, 
as it is no disgrace for young people to work with 
their hands as well as their brains, no longer exists 
the line of demarcation separating our citizenship 
into classes with the rich and well-to-do as in ye 
olden time, when wealth and social standing was 
the rule rather than the exception. Our consti- 
tuency has become one harmonious whole where 
honest labor receives its just rewards. The wheel 
of fortune has taken many a turn and twist during 
the past half century. Today a man may have 
reached the topmost rung of the financial ladder; 
tomorrow, seeking alms from those whom he despised 
but a short time before. 

Our people possess one advantage that neither 



204 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

fortune nor misfortune can altogether eliminate. 
We have our rich agricultural county, which is a 
mint in itself, excelled by none in the union of 
states. Of course, our farmers have learned, through 
the telephone, newspapers and other avenues, how 
to feather their own nests. And nothing has con- 
tributed more to high prices than our numerous 
market houses, conveniences to the buyers though 
they be. One sometimes wonders how prices are 
so uniformly fixed! It is easily explained. All 
that is necessary is to keep an eye on the "price 
fixer," who quietly moves among those with farm 
products to dispose of. A word, a look, or even the 
point of the finger, means to add another cent or 
two to this or that commodity. This may be true 
to a limited extent. 

From whom the farmers learned the art the 
chronicler cannot say, except that they might have 
learned it from the city-merchant. Be this as it 
may, the era of high prices has arrived, nor is it 
peculiar to Lancaster alone. Of all things, think of 
matches going up a cent a box with the country full 
of pine wood! Why, the chronicler's nearby neigh- 
bor nearly went into hysteria when she came to 
look over her grocery-bill to find that matches had 
taken an upward turn! A dollar or two added to 
the price of a new spring hat might have been borne 
with instant and becoming resignation, but a raise 
in the price of matches, never! And so, why in the 
world does not the Chamber of Commerce get busy 
in a busy way? We know that this body of workers 
are trying to keep the town's name on the map. 



MOVE FOR A COURT OF APPEAL 205 

We verily believe this body can get almost anything 
their hearts may desire if they only go about in the 
right way. Let their slogan be, "Pull together, work 
together, and stand together" in harmony with all 
other of the city's other organizations, not to over- 
look by any means our city fathers, duly representa- 
tive of the interests of their constituents, that usually 
pull apart instead of together on most problems that 
should demand the highest order of statesmanship. 

But what is this the minutes of councils of the 
year 1843 have to show? The announcement by 
the chairman of the Finance Committee that the 
census had fixed the town's population at 7,999 
came with a shock, with only a shght increase over 
that of the decade previous. It was only natural 
for this or that councilman to wonder why the 
census-enumerator had not made it the even eight 
thousand! 

But when the news reached a coterie of merchants 
sitting on a slab bench in front of the place of 
business of one of their number, they had other 
matters to talk over than the town's growth, whether 
in extension or population. What they knew, was 
that they still had the trade of the county as an 
asset. If a few of the old-time shopkeepers were 
here in the flesh to testify, their verdict would be 
that they did not want an influx of strangers to be 
setting up shops as competitors. 

Again, few of the old-time business men could ever 
have been made to believe that the time was ever 
to come when business was to be conducted on a 
"thirty-day" cash basis. With country as wefl as 



206 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

with some city people it had been a custom of long 
standing to settle accounts on the first of every 
April. And then, after settling up, open another 
account to be settled a year hence. This was 
called "financial settlement" day. It took years 
for the town merchants to break away from former 
customs. And a blessed thing it is for everybody 
to pay as he goes! 

However, the foregoing are but ghmpses of old- 
time conditions, which for years were stored away 
in memory's cells, always ready and pleading to find 
expression. To close this chapter, if you want to 
be happy, my boys, in your old days, fill your 
storehouse of memory with plenty of boyhood 
reminiscences. Crowd out all the evils, with only 
the pleasing reminders to be making merry over. 
Of course, this is not meant that either boys or girls 
in after years should forget their courting days. 
And last, let a mother's devotional ways remain 
green and fresh in memory's cells. And, as a 
parting word, do not forget to place a rose on her 
grave on "Mother's Day." This may be called 
sentiment, but without sentiment how cold and 
dreary would the world be! Think it over, my 
boys. You will only reahze it when you become an 
octogenarian. 

Why, the whole country is being crystallized in 
one overwhelming sentiment in upholding its rights 
on land and sea against the encroachment of a domi- 
nant oligarchy, and which if allowed to have its 
sway would domineer the world. Slow to wrath, 
who knows what may happen before this volume 
reaches the public eye.^^ 



CHAPTER XVI 

Society of Master Mechanics for the Poor 
Boys of Lancaster 

Seldom if ever do we hear mention made of the 
"poor boys of Lancaster." This may be for the 
reason that there are comparatively few poor boys 
in this city at the present time compared with 
the number in years gone by. 

Today, nine boys out of ten, if at all so disposed 
can find something to do. Every now and then one 
can see in a window, "A boy wanted to run errands." 
And the supply is seldom equal to the demand, and 
this, notwithstanding the fact that the telephone 
has largely taken the place of boys as message 
bearers. 

Along in the middle forties and fifties what were 
called poor boys were allowed to run the streets, 
many attending the lower grades of schools until 
they were well up in their teens unless fortunate 
enough to be apprenticed to a trade to be known as 
bound boys. 

It is from the minutes of councils of January 18, 
1843, we note the following: "Whereas, The Me- 
chanic's Society of City and County have, with 
most praiseworthy efforts, aided by the contribution 
of its members and others, erected a spacious Hall 
for the dissemination of knowledge by pubhc lectures 

207 



208 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

and otherwise, therefore, be it resolved that the same 
be exempt from payment of taxes for city purposes." 

Merely reheving the society from payment of 
taxes by councils was not anything unusual. The 
important question is how came the Society of 
Master Mechanics to be estabhshed? It was written 
by the biographer of the Rev. Augustus Muhlenberg 
that, in the spring following his advent into the 
city, he was instrmnental in calling a meeting of 
citizens interested in the formation of a pubhc 
library. And that out of this assemblage grew the 
"Society of Master Mechanics" for the benefit of 
the town's deserving poor. 

This "hall" was as famous in its day, and as 
well known as is the Y. M. C. A. of the present 
time, but differed in the class of boys admitted to 
its rooms for instruction, usually the sons of me- 
chanics serving as apprentices. At the time men- 
tioned, when a boy entered, he was expected to 
serve his time. If he happened to run away, 
escape was not so easy. He was as a rule captured. 
If he entered any one of the trades, where machinery 
was the exception rather than the rule, he began 
at the bottom and gradually worked himself into a 
first-class journeyman and taken in the union of 
Master Mechanics. 

In this later twentieth century, a boy of any get- 
up soon catches on to one particular line of work, 
especially in that of the electric. And it is astonish- 
ing how readily he finds employment, and at a 
weekly wage greater than a trained mechanic re- 
ceived back in the days before schools and colleges 
were as numerous as at the present day. 



SOCIETY OF MASTER MECHANICS 209 

As for girls, their chances of earning a hving have 
been enhanced a hundred fold. Scores of the 
gentler sex, instead of wedding, have become wedded 
to the typewriter. Enter any business office, and 
the jingling of the keys goes merrily on with nimble 
fingers. Having at last come by their own in the 
world of competition, they have made their boy 
friends stand up and take notice, that while they are 
still in the matrimonial market, they are not sitting 
down awaiting a proposal, maybe, later on, to make 
a living for both! 

Again, there never was a time in the history of 
Lancaster or any other city when there was so much 
employment at the disposal of young women. It is 
not so many years ago when domestics could be had 
without even an advertisement in any of the daily 
newspapers. Now they fix their own wages per 
week; and, what is more, they are always in demand, 
wages being a minor consideration. The girl prob- 
lem has given mothers more concern than have the 
selecting of a summer's wardrobe. But how to 
overcome the trouble is yet an unexplained question 
of domestic housekeeping. The needy meet on the 
street, in the churches, at their socials, and the 
first question is, "Can't you tell me of a good girl?" 
Some sell out, move into an apartment house, and, 
after a six-months, wish themselves back again in 
their former homes, even if they have to do their 
own cooking, house-cleaning and other chores! 
But what's the remedy.^ There is none but to grin 
and bear it. Women have their alternative of 
remaining in single blessedness, or of marrying men 



210 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

who can be made to do the cooking themselves. 
It is a sad condition, and one the narrator ahnost 
wishes he had not entered upon, compelled as he is 
to bear up under the same kind of household worries. 
However, with the minutes of councils as a diver- 
sion, the octogenarian can thrust all minor troubles 
aside. Again resorting to the records of January, 
1847, we find "Be it ordered that the Committee 
on Finance take up and destroy certificates of loan 
of all denomination under five dollars, issued by the 
city of Lancaster, amounting to $45,376.19." 

From the foregoing it would seem that the city 
had outstanding in small currency a pretty large 
amount dm-ing times of stringency of the money 
market. But in due time specie payment was 
resumed down until the breaking out of the war 
between the North and the South, when gold and 
silver for the second time found a resting place in 
the vaults of the banks. And who among the 
wisest of the wise men of the nation knows how 
soon fractional currency may again come in these 
times of war and rumors of warP 

Previous to the year 1840 all money from any 
and every source went into a common fund, making 
it impossible for the public to know how much came 
from water rent or how much from property tax. 
From that time on water tax has been kept separate 
and apart from monies derived from other sources. 
For keeping all funds as a whole, there may have 
been a cause in not allowing it to become known in 
how far water receipts had fallen below expenditures 
for this staple alone. Bookkeeping at the time had 



SOCIETY OF MASTER MECHANICS 211 

not become a science like today, nor the expense 
as great, needing a treasurer, controller, and a half 
dozen clerks, such as are to be found in all city de- 
partments at the present time. But as good book- 
keeping is as necessary as good housekeeping, why 
even intimate that these overworked officials are not 
earning their salaries? 

During these years of slow industrial develop- 
ment, it is well to note how many men of means 
were holders of certificates of city loan. Of a list 
of sixty subscribers the Finance Committee's report 
shows, during the forties, $175,007.62, passing into 
the hands of the well-to-do, drawing six per cent, 
interest. One subscriber alone held $50,000. If 
doubters there were as to the city's abiUty to redeem 
these loans, this investor was not one of the pessi- 
mists, ever and at all times ready to foresee some 
dire calamity looming in the financial horizon. With 
nearly all monied men, a six per cent, city bond was 
more enticing than a certificate bearing double the 
rate in a manufactm-ing industry. Another reason 
for the city's slow development! 

As there never has been a time when the councils 
of Lancaster have not been ready to pay homage 
to this or that great man, on October 30, 1841, 
both bodies were hurriedly summoned to act upon 
the following resolution: "Whereas, Councils have 
heard with great pleasure that His Excellency, David 
Porter, Governor of Pennsylvania, wiU visit the 
city to-day. Resolved, that we have an undiminished 
confidence in the administration of Governor Porter, 
and rejoice that the popular voice has again declared 



212 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

that he shall be our Chief Magistrate for another 
three years. 

"Resolved, that we together, with the Mayor and 
Aldermen, wait upon his Exellency on the arrival 
of the cars, to tender him the hospitalities of the 
city. Resolved, further, that Messrs. Champneys 
and Buchanan join in the ceremonies." This reso- 
lution emphasizes the fact that the people of "Old 
Lancaster" were always and ever ready through 
their councils to welcome all distinguished citizens, 
come from whence they might. 

Another outburst on the part of councils occurred 
the same year in making preparations for the parade 
in honor of WilHam Henry Harrison, "the hero of 
Tippecanoe," and popularly known as "the log- 
cabin" candidate. What rendered the parade so 
conspicuous was a log cabin on wheels with a live 
coon fastened on the roof, and a barrel of hard 
cider standing by the cabin's open door. Every- 
where along the line of parade was sung the song 
of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too." It was a most 
momentous occasion for the Whigs, their first victory 
for forty years. And who could have had the 
audacity to say that the name, "Lancaster" was 
not then on the map? 

Politically, if not industrially, there never has 
been a time from 1818 down to 1918 that our town's 
name has not been on the map! It used to be said, 
"As go Lancaster city and county, so goes the 
Union for either one or the other parties." Men 
have been known to sacrifice a lucrative business in 
order to serve their constituents in any capacity 



SOCIETY OF MASTER MECHANICS 213 

from that of constable, squire, on up to that of 
president of the United States. And, indeed, why 
should not all men be wiUing to help in every way 
within their means and capacity, in enlarging and 
beautifying their own home cityp To Hve alone 
for self and selfish ends and aims, is to hve a useless, 
wasteful life. And here the thought occurs, it is 
easier to give advice than to practice what one 
preaches. So, to avoid the billowy waves of too 
much criticism, the chronicler has an episode to 
relate as taken from the minutes of councils at the 
November meeting of 1843. 

"Gentlemen of Select and Common Councils. 
I have the honor to transmit herewith the resolu- 
tion of the Lancaster, Susquehanna, Slackwater 
Navigation Company, inviting councils to join in 
an experimental excursion on Tuesday next. 
"Respectfully, 

"John Mathiot, Mayor.'' 

On the day named there arrived from the city of 
Philadelphia the steamer intended for the piu-pose 
of towing on part of the navigation between Lan- 
caster and the Susquehanna. The invitation con- 
tinued, "The Conestoga Packet Boat will leave 
Reigart's Landing in tow of steam at half past eight 

"Lewis Hurford, President.'' 

To this "free junketing expedition" came the 
prompt reply, "That Councils feel great pleasure 
in hearing of the arrival of the Steamboat, *The 
Edward Coleman,' which is to be run on the Cones- 
toga from the city to tidewater, and hail the occur- 



214 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

rence as indicative of the completion of what they 
had always beheved would be of great benefit to 
the city and county of Lancaster. 

"Councils feel deeply the comphment paid to 
them, and freely accept, by resolving to meet at 
their rooms on Tuesday morning at 8 o'clock, to 
proceed from there to Mr. Reigart's Landing." 
Adopted unanimously by both branches. 

It will be recalled that the canal continued with 
more or less success until the early sixties, before 
going finally into liquidation. 

This, if the narrator may add, is the first resolution 
passed unanimously by councils since the year 1818, 
except over the remains of one of their own number. 
But why should there have been any hesitation, 
being led to beheve, as they were, to partake of 
the many good things to be had on board the packet 
boat, "The Edward Coleman," on their way to the 
Susquehanna on a beautiful November morning, 
even if it did require councihnen getting up a little 
earlier than was their usual custom. Why, we 
verily beheve from personal experience in antici- 
pation of a free "blow-out" to New York, the 
chronicler would have sat up the entire night, even 
to miss his breakfast. 

The only account of this journey down the winding 
Conestoga has been taken from a newspaper of that 
early date, from which a few extracts have been 
made, to be read by some of the councilmen's 
descendants. 

" Before the Edward Coleman had gotten up steam, 
a roll-call registered the nine Select and the fifteen 



SOCIETY OF MASTER MECHANICS 215 

Common members all aboard on schedule time. 
As the weather was a little too cool for bathing 
outwardly in the placid waters of the Susquehanna, 
our caravan of sightseers were not to be blamed for 
bathing themselves inwardly from a dozen bottles 
of champagne at the Company's expense! Then to 
think of the ample * spread,' so different from what 
they had been getting at home! What actually 
occurred in passing through locks would be to 
betray confidence. It was late in the day when 
Safe Harbor was reached, owing to "The Edward 
Coleman" running out of steam. On our home- 
ward journey, trouble beset us on every hand, 
requiring the packet boat to be drawn homeward 
bound by three mules. And now, Mr. Editor, 
whether any prayers were offered by the returning 
councilmen is extremely doubtful owing to the fact 
that they were not prayerfully inchned." 

And so ends this chapter — fragments picked up, 
some out of the minutes of councils, others through 
the chronicler's storehouse of memory. 

From the Intelligencer of May 28, 18^^. 

STEAMBOAT "CONESTOGA" 
The splendid new Iron Steamboat Conestoga is now running 
with regularity and great dispatch between 

Lancaster & Philadelphia, 
and will take freight either way at very reduced rates, viz.: Flour 
at 183/^ cents per barrel, delivered in Broad street or any part of 
Philadelphia. Store Goods 16 cents per 100 lbs. dehvered in Lan- 
caster city. Apply to 

George Calder, 

Graefif 's Landing, Lancaster. 
A. Wright & Nephew, 

Vine St., Wharf, Philadelphia. 



CHAPTER XVII 

First Move to Bring Gas into the City very 
Discouraging 

So much occurred during the forties as to cause 
the chronicler to pause and consider whether more 
time has not been given to matters of secondary 
importance rather than to such others having to do 
with the city as a growing municipality. But all 
readers are not interested alike. There is the 
human side apart from the historical, and it is to 
meet this diversity of opinion the chronicler has 
endeavored to interest in the volume's pages. 

Mention of the railroad, water and gas, how would 
you, my reader, hke to dispense with the automobile, 
trolley and parlor coach and go back to the slow- 
going stage .^ As to water, filtered, how would you 
like to go to the pump for your daily supply? In 
mention of hght, the chronicler does not beheve there 
is any one in Lancaster willing to exchange gas or 
electricity for the candle, fat lamp or oil with the 
danger of an explosion. Such were the conditions 
less than a century ago. Did the people welcome 
the incoming of the railroad .^^ The majority may 
have; others, counting the cost, demurred. When 
it was proposed to bring the water from the Cones- 
toga, a like condition prevailed, only in a more pro- 
nounced form. At last, when it was proposed to 

216 



FIRST MOVE TO BRING GAS INTO CITY 217 

illume the streets and houses with gas, did the 
citizens rise up in their might to welcome it as a 
godsend? No! wrapped in their former customs, 
habits and traditions, a goodly number met in 
town-meeting with the result to follow. 

At a meeting of councils, November 7, 1842, came 
a petition signed by numerous citizens, praying said 
bodies to grant to "The Lancaster City Gas Com- 
pany" the right to lay pipes into the city. With 
this, came a message from Mayor Mathiot: " Gentle- 
men: The undersigned, for and behalf of the Lan- 
caster City Gas Company, respectfully begs leave 
to state that, in the event of the councils granting 
the said company the privilege of laying pipes 
through the streets of the city and distributing the 
gas, to give the Corporation the right and privilege 
at any time after twenty years of purchasing and 
assuming the ownership of the entire works with 
their appurtenances erected and estabhshed by the 
said company; on the Corporation of said city pay- 
ing, or securing to be paid to said company the 
principal cost of said works, and making up the 
dividends on the stock of said company to six per 
cent, (should the same fall below that) and ten per 
cent, on the entire cost for the trouble and expense 
and responsibihty incurred in the establishment of 
the said Gas Works : 

"Signed, John Getz, on behalf of the company." 

This was followed by a protest which, being read, 
was laid on the table. It is only reflecting pubHc 
opinion pro and con to say that the townspeople 
were divided, as they have since been on all new 

16 



218 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

departures from former customs. As the writer 
has occasion to know, being chairman of the Lamp 
Committee at the time the electric Hght came to 
take the place of gas, his position was not by any 
means a bed of roses. And among the most strenu- 
ous dissenters were the owners of gas stock. This 
self interest unfortunately has always loomed up, 
and at times among councilmen who make city 
affairs secondary to their own selfish desires. All 
cities might become models of perfection if it were 
not that so many councilmen have axes to grind 
and in what they consider perfectly fair means in 
guarding their personal holdings from injury. 

However, at a meeting following an ordinance 
was read three times and passed, giving the com- 
pany the right to lay pipes through the city, pro- 
vided it be done within two years. On the principle 
that you can lead a horse to the water-trough but 
you can't make him drink, so, while the company 
was given the right under certain restrictions, not 
even councils had the authority to make the people 
use it for house fighting. 

Much of the opposition came from the dealers in 
oil with which the lamps had been fiUed, and to be 
fighted only during the dark of the moon. As there 
was not any weather biueau to tell when nights were 
to be cloudy and when clear, the lamp-lighters con- 
tinued to obey instructions by glancing the almanac 
over. 

It will be observed that, while councils permitted 
the gas company to lay its pipes, it did not take 
kindly to purchasing the plant after twenty years. 



FIRST MOVE TO BRING GAS INTO CITY 219 

And why? Had not councils helped bring the rail- 
road into the city? And, furthermore, had not the 
municipahty built the water works? And yet, as 
these older heads reasoned, they had still the candle 
and oil lamp to fall back upon. It would be inter- 
esting to know how many years it took to persuade 
housekeepers to resort to gas; also, to get the city 
to hght its streets with gas. And it was only after a 
special offer was made in a reduction, that a few of 
the prominent avenues were thus Ughted. 

It would seem there is always something to engage 
the chronicler's attention. At a councilmanic meet- 
ing, January, 1842, it was resolved "That three 
members from Select, three from Common, with a 
like nimiber of citizens be appointed to meet a 
committee of members of Congress to make an 
examination of the waters of the Conestoga whereon 
to estabhsh a 'National Foundry.'" Where or at 
what point this foundry was to be located or its 
purpose, no further mention was made at any future 
meeting, nor did any committee arrive. 

Once more must mention be made of the "City 
Scales," first located at the southwest corner of 
Duke and Orange streets on the vacant plot where 
now stands the Pennsylvania Business College. 
From the upper part of the scale's house extended a 
beam, on the end of which hung the steelyards. 
When a load of coal was to be weighed, as per 
requirement, it was driven on the platform and the 
horses unhitched; then by means of pulley and 
tackle, up went the load, the weight taken by the 
weigh-master. Later, along came the empty wagon 



220 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

undergoing the same process. At the time all coal 
was weighed by the city to make sure customers 
were getting the proper weight of twenty-two 
hundred and forty pounds as a ton. Since those 
early days, dealers in coal do their own weighing on 
platform scales at two thousand pounds per ton, 
or at so much per pound, and no questions asked by 
the consumer as to price per ton or weight. 

Along about this time the Finance Committee was 
greatly annoyed over petitions from fire companies, 
praying for financial assistance. This caused the 
chairman to declare, "There are now in the city 
more fire companies and more firemen than under 
any circumstances can ever be required. Experience 
has shown that this excess of fire engines has pro- 
duced very great confusion, but, what is more to be 
feared, retarded and interfered with their usefulness. 
It would, to say the least, be the height of folly, 
even with an overflowing treasury, to encourage any 
increase in the number of engines, already com- 
pletely organized and equipped. 

"Persons composing what they call the * Columbia 
Hose' company well knew before they associated 
themselves together that their company was entirely 
unnecessary. Besides, it behooves councils to dis- 
countenance everything productive of evil, and we 
can conceive of none greater than a useless, super- 
numerary number of fire companies!" And the 
"Columbia Hose" Company did not get an appro- 
priation! What an uproar the chairman's speech 
created among the members is not referred to in the 
councils' proceedings. 



FIRST MOVE TO BRING GAS INTO CITY 221 

If the members of this disappointed fire company 
could have looked ahead to this year 1917, to see 
appropriated for the paid department $30,000 
annually, we can only imagine their astonishment. 
As the minutes show, the largest yearly appropria- 
tion made at any time mentioned was $350. 

Among the conamunications received was one 
from Thomas C. Wiley, Collector of City Toll at 
the railroad, "that from and after this day, all 
cars loaded or unloaded from the State Siding on 
Chestnut Street or from any private siding, shall be 
charged twenty-five cents wharfage for single and 
fifty cents for double cars for the use of said streets; 
and that no cars on the streets shall remain there 
for more than twenty-four hours." 

Think of cars standing on Chestnut street from 
Duke to Water! 

Another page encased in black lines indicates the 
passing of a person of more than usual importance. 
At this meeting, Tuesday afternoon, June 25, 1845, 
we find the following memorial resolution: "Where- 
as, It has been announced to the American people 
that Andrew Jackson, ex-President of the United 
States, has departed this life — 

"Whereas, This mournful event, although not 
unlooked for, has caused a deep impression through- 
out the Nation, indicating a universal disposition to 
pay merited honors to the memory of the illustrious 
dead. And Whereas, we the members of the Select 
and Common Councils of Lancaster City, partici- 
pated in the general feeling, and are desirous of 
participating in the general demonstration, suitable 



222 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

to the sad occasion when the Country sorrows for 
the decease of one who has so eminently filled the 
mission of his glory — Therefore, Resolved, that in 
view of the loss the Nation has sustained in the death 
of Andrew Jackson, once the leader of her armies, 
the Head of the country, and chief among her 
statesmen — we cause our respective chambers to be 
placed in mourning for six months, and that each 
individual wear the badge of mourning for sixty days. 
Resolved, that a sum not exceeding one hundred 
dollars be appropriated to defray the expenses that 
may be incurred in the personal obsequies of the late 
Andrew Jackson." 

At the close of John Mathiot's eleven years as 
mayor came Michael Carpenter, who for many 
years had held the position of Clerk of the Select 
branch. At the first meeting after his election in 
1843, an ordinance was introduced, giving the 
Conestoga water to a "Cotton Factory at seventy- 
five dollars per year so long as said factory shall 
continue its operations.'' 

The petitioners' request being granted, brought 
forth the following message from his honor, the 
mayor: "I object to the adoption to that part of 
the minutes which relates to the Preamble and 
Resolution instructing the Water Committee to 
enter into a contract with a company, giving water 
at seventy-five dollars per year perpetually, and 
for the following reasons : 

"First, Councils cannot confer on the Water 
Committee a power which is not granted to itself 
by its charter : 



FIRST MOVE TO BRING GAS INTO CITY 223 

"Second, Councils cannot authorize the Water 
Committee by resolution to sell or enter into con- 
tract, and bargain away for an unHmited period any 
part of the city property in which the citizens will 
thereafter continue to hold an interest: 

"Third: Councils cannot pass such a resolution 
without suspending or repealing the second rule 
which governs the business and intercourse between 
the two bodies: 

"Fourth: Councils have no power to enact either 
by resolution or by ordinance which will bind up 
the interests of the community perpetually. 

"Fifth: This action on the part of Councils tend 
to compromise the interests of citizens, and tend to 
estabUsh perpetuity, a power which no Corporation 
can possess under the laws of Pennsylvania. 

"Sixth: Variance from required order of action 
is vahd grounds for a motion to quash all pro- 
ceedings had in the premises : 

"Seventh: I object to their adoption because 
they are unjust in their tendency, and will confer 
rights and privileges to this Company perpetually 
which are refused and cannot be enjoyed by the 
rest of its citizens! 

"Resolved, that the clerk be authorized and 
instructed to draw black lines around and to expunge 
forthwith from the Journal all reference to the 
grant." This was decided by the president to be 
out of order when an appeal was taken, and his 
decision overruled with but one dissenting vote in 
the negative. 

Conmaent would seem to be unnecessary. All 



224 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

know what the Councils of Lancaster did less than a 
score of years ago — they gave in perpetuity a most 
valuable franchise never to be reclaimed! As the 
minutes further show, Mayor Carpenter was not 
opposed to giving aid to this, one of the first cotton 
mills to be erected, with others to follow. His 
objection was in giving the right in perpetuity. We 
all know what a blessing these mills have been, 
aiding in the building of homes all over the southern 
and other parts of the city. For nearly seventy 
years the chcking of their spindles has been heard 
day in and day out, affording employment to de- 
serving men and women. 

Before the year 1840, few new streets had been 
opened, and it was not until a somewhat later day 
that property holders had an act passed, reim- 
bursing themselves for land taken in street exten- 
sions. Efforts have since been made to have the 
act repealed. Juries have in many cases awarded 
damages out of all reason, when it is considered that 
the benefit accruing to owners in the shape of build- 
ing lots on both sides of a street. It is not so many 
years ago that the city had to pay the county over 
one hundred thousand dollars and which the county 
had previously assumed. This latter statement 
has reference to payment made by the city along in 
the eighties, as the minutes will in all probabihty 
show. 

If what has already been set forth serves no other 
purpose than to make councils more careful in 
guarding the city's interests, it may serve a good 
purpose. And here the question arises, what is a 
city.^ As understood by the average citizen it is 



FIRST MOVE TO BRING GAS INTO CITY 225 

but a heartless corporation owing everybody a living, 
if not in one way, then in another. To much the 
city in a suit for damages as against the individual 
has become a well-estabhshed principle in all muni- 
cipalities. Few there are in the making of their 
wills ever think of leaving any part of their fortunes 
for the city's future enlargement and beautifying. 
We live, grow wealthy out of the advantages the 
city affords, and then take pleasure in finding fault 
with things that do not go our way. It is to be 
hoped in the next succeeding chapter there may be 
more of the historical, and less of the chronicler's 
telhng other people how to manage their own affairs, 
pubhc and private. If, however, the narrator's 
views run counter to the average citizen's, let them 
be taken for what they are worth, in extracting the 
grain from the chaff. For after all the conununity 
of Lancaster, taken as a whole, has at all times been 
a law-abiding citizenship. Strikes, as shall be 
shown, we have had, but seldom if ever have they 
resulted in any very great disturbance of the public 
peace. Physically speaking, the soil upon which the 
townstead was built, has been exceptionally free from 
upheavals such as have visited cities built along this 
or that river. Apart from frequent inundations to 
which other towns have been subjected, our town 
has had a certain number, but where can it be 
pointed to that whole blocks have been swept away.^^ 
Lancaster's safety at least during the past quarter 
of a century can be attributed to our well-equipped 
Fire Department. But why shower too much praise 
before the story is ended? 



CHAPTER XVIII 

Dismantling of the Old Jail, and Building of 

THE New Prison. James Buchanan's 

Bequest 

Discussion having arisen at times as to when 
the old jail was dismantled and the new prison 
erected, it may be said it was completed in 1851, 
and considered at the time a very massive structm*e, 
in fact, too stately for evildoers. Built of sand- 
stone, it had a tower one hundred and ten feet high; 
this, however, was removed years ago, owing no 
doubt to its becoming top-heavy. As the "Castle" 
stands it covers about four acres, surrounded on 
three sides with a waU eighteen feet high, but as has 
been the case, not high enough to prevent escapes. 
The cost was $110,000. 

To repeat what may already have been stated, 
the first crude jail stood at Postletwhait's tavern in 
which the first court was held in 1729-30. The 
second log jail was built on the Hamilton plot at 
the corner of West King and Prince. It answered 
its purpose until 1774, when it was supplanted by 
one of stone. This building, famihar to almost 
everybody from its picture, stood until 1852, when 
its inmates were transferred to their new quarters 
on East King near the reservoir. 

During the time this structure was being dis- 

226 



BUILDING THE NEW JAIL 227 

mantled more than one boy's curiosity was aroused 
as he strolled here and there even to the dungeon 
on the lower ground floor. Looking through a 
crevice a more gruesome sight could not be imagined. 
And horror increased when told that, years before, 
a lone prisoner had been allowed to starve to death 
through the keeper's forgetfulness. Along the side 
of a rock could be seen where the convict had 
scraped with his fingers to find a way out or to 
attract attention. If the story was told to frighten 
boys, it surely had its effect. 

At the January meeting of 1850 a score of peti- 
tions were presented, all praying for better pave- 
ments and better crossings. One from the Vestry 
of Saint James' Church asked in hiunbleness of 
spirit and meekness of heart for a crossing leading 
to the opposite sides of the streets. As the male 
attendance had fallen off, the excuse given no doubt 
was on account of the street's condition. And good 
reason had the men at least for being tardy, owing 
to a report that only a short time previous one of 
the vestrymen had suddenly disappeared with only 
his hat remaining to certify to his identification. 

Of course, too much credence need not be placed 
in stories of this kind. And yet, along in the 
fifties, the streets were an abomination. However, 
this petition, and also others, was referred to the 
Street Committee. Being in the winter time, with 
the coiomissioner taking things easy until the coming 
of the June appropriation, the vestrymen had to 
bear their souls in peace for six months longer. 

Waiting for the June appropriation, has been the 



228 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

excuse down to the present day! For this waiting 
there may be some justification. It gives the dust 
a chance to find its way into this or that house, or 
all of them, instead of being carted away earlier in the 
shape of mud! Every womanly housekeeper in the 
city of Lancaster of this year 1917 has had more 
dust to contend with than all their other worries 
combined; at least the chronicler has been so in- 
formed by one who knows whereof she speaks. 

During these years of slow, industrial develop- 
ment, Councils had all kinds of trouble with the 
Water street run. No sooner had it been arched 
from a certain point at Orange than along came a 
freshet, requiring the arching to be done over, all 
owing to the mistake of the engineer in making the 
culvert too small. 

Coming regularly before Councils for a decade 
was the market house question. In fact, from the 
year 1730 on down through succeeding years, it 
was sure to loom up in some shape or another. The 
Reidenbach property, extending along West King 
sixty-four feet, thence northward, was about to be 
purchased for $20,000, when, owing to the low con- 
dition of the treasury, the matter was indefinitely 
postponed. 

It was along about the year 1849 that the following 
letter reached Mayor Carpenter, and was by him 
referred to the Select, and concurred in by the 
Common branch : 

''Sir: When I removed from Wheatland to Wash- 
ington in 1845, 1 communicated to some of my friends 
my determination to invest $4,000 and donate the 



BUILDING THE NEW JAIL 229 

accruing interest on the same to the purchase of 
wood and coal for the use of the poor and indigent 
females of the city of Lancaster during the winter 
season. Having often witnessed, with deep sym- 
pathy, the suffering of this helpless class of our com- 
munity, for want of fuel, during periods of severe 
cold, I thought I could not manifest my gratitude 
to the benevolent citizens of Lancaster for all their 
kindness to myself personally in a more acceptable 
and christian manner than by estabhshing such a 
charity. This investment was actually made in 
April, 1846; and I feel myself greatly indebted to 
you for having cheerfully and faithfully distributed 
the interest which has since accrued, among the 
worthy objects for which it was intended. Hitherto, 
as you are aware, I have been prevented from placing 
this charity upon a legal and firm basis, and thereby 
giving it some degree of publicity for reasons which 
now no longer exist. The object of this letter is to 
request you to communicate to the Select and 
Common Councils that I am prepared to transmit to 
the city $4,000 of the certificates of the loan, with 
interest, this thirtieth June last, as soon as they shall 
accept the same, and agree to apply the accrued 
interest thereupon perpetually in the manner already 
specified. 

"Very Respectfully, 

"James Buchanan." 

This request was gratefully and thankfully ac- 
cepted by both branches, and a suitable reply sent 
to Mr. Buchanan. Unless the minutes have been 
overlooked, this is the first bequest ever given by 



230 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

anyone for the poor of the city. It bespeaks for 
the donor much for which the people of Lancaster 
have cause to be thankful, when we consider that 
in the forties, four thousand dollars was considered 
an ample fortune for any person to possess. 

This fund has been increasing, but not propor- 
tionately as it should have been. The interest of 
this and other legacies has been carefully guarded 
and annually dealt out to the town's deserving in 
which favoritism has no place. 

It used to be said in the olden days that a man 
who owned his one-story house with a httle money 
in bank, was worthy of being congratulated. Only 
a short time ago the chronicler was shown a pamphlet 
compiled by the late Luther Richards, containing 
an estimate of the financial status of the leading 
men of the city during the middle fifties. 

Among the number running from $1,000 upward, 
there was only one on the fist with a fortune of over 
$10,000, and he was considered a miUionaire, to use a 
more modern term. At the present day, fortunes 
must have a "nully" or two added to make them 
count for anything above the average. But in 
many instances, "come easy, go easy" is the rule 
rather than the exception. Let, then, those in 
making their wills not forget the deserving poor. 

At a special meeting, July 12, 1850, the following 
preamble and resolution was passed unanimously 
by both branches of Councils: "Whereas, Councils 
have heard with deep regret the melancholy and 
unlooked-for intelligence of the death of Zachary 
Taylor, late President of the United States, There- 



BUILDING THE NEW JAIL 231 

fore be it resolved that, in common with the Ameri- 
can people, we deem that his great mihtary training, 
his high integrity and pm'ity of character have justly 
endeared him to the people of this Union, and that 
we deeply deplore his death as a National calamity." 

What rendered the above tribute to the memory 
of General Taylor so appropriate at the time was, 
no doubt, for three reasons: First, that in 1846 he 
was known as "Old Rough and Ready," in winning 
the battle at Resaca la Palma in Mexico. 

Second, it was while on his way to the city of 
Washington to assume the duties of President, 
that he stopped over in Lancaster for a short time, 
receiving a royal reception by the populace. 

Thirdly, how vividly does the narrator recall how 
we boys hurried out the Harrisburg pike where, 
after he had dismounted from the train, we had 
the pleasure of grasping his hand. He Hved but a 
short time after being inaugurated President. By 
some it was said the hospitality extended by the 
goodly people of Lancaster had hastened his death. 
We know the many good things provided by the 
people of Lancaster have been responsible for the 
demise of others, and may have had something to do 
with President Taylor's sudden ending. 

About the year 1852 a recently published volume, 
entitled "Sketch Book of Pennsylvania," found 
wide circulation among councilmen, lawyers and 
others, producing a profound sensation! The part 
referred to is herein set forth in order to let the 
people of "New Lancaster" know what the writer 
thought of the town at the time. The portion 



232 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

quoted may be found on page 48 of the "Sketch 
Book," thus reheving the chronicler of the charge 
of having written the article himself. Again, the 
narrative admits of every shade of opinion relating 
to the townstead, not to overlook the fact that some 
people think that only things complimentary should 
be written of their ancestors. With this apology, 
the sketch runs as follows: 

"The city has made much improvement. It is 
now nearly fourteen thousand, whereas, only a few 
years ago it was but eight thousand. Like many 
another county-seat, Lancaster has labored under 
the paralyzing influence of a superfluous popula- 
tion — a population which, whatever its social merits, 
does nothing but consume without contributing to 
the real production or substantial wealth of a com- 
munity. The place is literally over-run with pro- 
fessional men, including hordes of smiling, friendly 
poHticians, awaiting their 'turn' for the suffrages 
of the 'free and independent electors' of the 'Old 
Guard.' There is no county in the State — there is 
probably none in the Union — where more interest 
is manifested in political affairs; at the same time, 
it must be observed, there is none which has more 
offices to bestow. 

"Lancaster has produced some of the most skifful 
practitioners in the political arena. Indeed, any 
one who has graduated from its schools may safely 
venture forth, relying on his 'tactics.' The learned 
professions, too, embrace some of the brightest orna- 
ments in the country. Some of its citizens are very 
rich and could safely invest their capital in objects 



BUILDING THE NEW JAIL 233 

conceived in the spirit of taste and liberality; and, 
with half the talent and energy wasted in pohtical 
struggles, the town might readily become one of the 
principal workshops in Pennsylvania." 

How much or how httle truth the foregoing con- 
tains is for the Chamber of Commerce to ascertain 
at one of their weekly banquets. Of one sentence 
the chronicler cannot take issue — "That with half 
the talent and energy wasted in pohtical struggles, 
Lancaster might readily have become one of the 
principal workshops in Pennsylvania." And yet, 
as there are two sides to every question, it is not 
unreasonable to assume that the city could have 
reached its present status without the great legal 
minds which, in years gone by, gave the townstead 
a standing the country over such as no purely 
industrial center of trade and commerce has ever 
been known to reach. For, after all, it has been 
through poHtics that the nation has achieved its 
greatest ends and aims — forty-eight states into one 
glorious union. 

We are now to reach the time of the dismanthng 
of the Center Square court house in 1852. That no 
action was taken by councils against its removal 
was on account of its being a county building, the 
ground upon which it stood having been set apart 
by James Hamilton for the use of a court house only. 
Like a good many other buildings which have since 
been removed, it was no longer adapted for the same 
use it had been when Burgess Hand pictured it in 
such glowing colors as the "future home for Senators 
and Representatives." It had become antiquated, 

17 



234 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

inwardly at least, although outwardly it was a mag- 
nificent structure of architectural design. For sixty- 
eight years it had stood with its clock striking out 
the hours of day and night. And within its narrow 
limits many a brilliant speech had been made by 
the leading attorneys gathered therein. For years 
it had been the voting place of the four wards of the 
city down almost to the time of its removal. 

The question has often been asked, Why another 
new court house was not erected on the same site 
of the old one? There were many reasons, one, the 
space being too small, another, that the people did 
not want the Square encumbered. And yet, few 
ever imagined the time was to come when it was to 
be given up to street cars, automobiles and monu- 
mental purposes. But the Square is the hub 
around which the life and inspiration of all classes 
gather from each of the foiu* sections of nine hundred 
square miles of our rich agricultural county. "Old 
Penn Square," as the chronicler loves to call it, 
owing to its many early associations of boyhood, 
is the great human reservoir into which the trolley 
cars pour their daily influx of shoppers and sight- 
seers. No longer as in days gone by exists the 
antipathy between city and country people, as 
during our childhood, when the cry went out, "The 
town for the town's people, the country for those 
who till the soil." The line of demarcation has 
been eliminated almost entirely, and people of all 
classes mingle together. And what has become so 
strikingly apparent, no longer are we able to dis- 
criminate between the girls from the country and 




THE OLD COURT HOUSE 



BUILDING THE NEW JAIL 235 

those of the city. Ahnost every Saturday has 
become a " Whitmonday " as it was known in the 
olden time. Fair week comes along yearly, with the 
circus for boys to make merry over! And who 
would exchange Lancaster for any other city in the 
union of states? If our people lack in anything, 
it is in sentiment. Only in certain parts where new 
residences have been erected have the dwellers 
displayed any sense of propriety in beautifying their 
homes with lawns and other attractions. The un- 
gainly board fence still stands, leading strangers to 
the opinion that the people of Lancaster want to 
be fenced in from their neighbors. These dividing 
obstructions ought to be removed, if for no other 
reason than for the high price of lumber in keeping 
them in repair, not to mention the quantity of lime 
required and the cost of whitewashing annually. 

However, there is one thing for which the people 
of both old and new Lancaster have ever had a loving 
regard — trees, and the older, the more valued they 
become. But in their selecting, httle attention has 
been paid to the kind planted: The speedy growing 
poplar or the silver maple that sends its roots as 
far underground as its branches are above, are 
planted without regard to either synametry or length 
of service. 

And here, another thought: What every city needs 
is a commission on the selection of trees for shade 
fronting the town's houses. In the backyards 
fences may be necessary, to keep bad boys from 
encroaching on the luscious fruit, which is not half 
as plentiful as when orchards abounded with every 



236 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

variety from the Rambo and Smokehouse, to the 
Grindstone apple which was not to be despised 
after being dug up in the spring and as mellow as a 
peach. 

Only a very few can recall "Bobby" Fultz' and 
"Freddy" Hensel's apple orchards! And the boy 
who did not pay these a frequent visit by crawling 
over a high fence during the "good old summer 
time," was not deserving the honor of being dubbed 
an all-round happy youngster! What matter it if 
caught astraddle, with one side of his anatomy 
hanging perched on the inside, the other on the 
outside of the high fence, where stood the owner 
with paddle in hand. But you know the rest, my 
boys! However, the owners of apple, peach and 
cherry orchards were more considerate during the 
good old days; they never stretched a hue of barbed 
wire along the hne of their fences, maybe for the 
reason that barbed wire had not come into general 
use! 

The chronicler has just read of a twentieth- 
century boy who, being caught on the topmost twig 
of a pear tree with pear in hand, was asked by the 
owner what he was doing there. To this silly 
question he made reply, "Say, mister, as I found a 
pear on the ground, I am just trying to tie it on." 

Another story that comes to mind: Walking along 
a road, a man was asked where he was going? Re- 
turning a short time later, and asked what had 
caused him to return so soon, came his witty reply, 
"I have been all over the farmer's farm, and findin' 
all the fences made of wire, I soon concluded that a 
wire fence was no place for a tired man to rest!" 



BUILDING THE NEW JAIL 237 

Speaking of boys, what in all conscience have 
become of the innumerable nmuber of ginger-horses, 
artistically decorated by the ginger-horse artist? 
The best known known during later years was 
"Toodler," whose business was that of "ginger-horse 
decorator." It has been said that he died from 
eating too many of the broken ones! 

Another query! What have become of all the 
"love letters" done up in tissue paper, each contain- 
ing a Httle square "goodie"? We think we know 
where the few lines of verse went — to the girl friends, 
while the goodies went the way of all delicacies! 

Oh, it is a funny world, is it not? No! the world 
is all right. It is the many funny boys living in it 
that makes it so funny! We have just learned of a 
most indulgent father who, on taking his own WilHe 
aside before starting for school, said most affec- 
tionately, "Willie, remember, you are to be home 
promptly this evening, otherwise you will have to 
go to bed without your supper in missing the picture- 
show " ! It was well after the sun had set when poor, 
tired Willie entered, to be met by the enraged father, 
who exclaimed, "Now, my son, go your way to 
your room!" Tm-ning, the obedient WilHe repHed, 
"Say, Dad, if I take a lickin', won't you take me to 
the picture-show?" And to the show they went to 
see the pictures. 

But WiUie is not to be blamed for being an all- 
round boy. It takes just such active, forceful lads 
to make the all-round men. Have you ever thought, 
my dear worrisome mothers, what an insipid world 
this would be without at least one WilHe in the 



238 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

family? They are necessary evils, except in time 
of war, when they are called upon to do service for 
Uncle Sam to save their daddies from going! As 
we all know, the war of the sixties was won largely 
by the boys! And who knows what is likely to 
happen again? And as for the girls, they are just 
as patriotic today as were the Daughters of the 
Revolution and, later, during the Civil War. 

A Httle sentiment woven into the narrative ! Well, 
how could it be otherwise, after meeting the cham- 
pions of the "Red Cross" Fund? It is the greatest 
charity ever given by mortal man since the beginning 
of the world! 

With a councilmanic record book lying within 
reach, the chronicler's eyes take in a transcript of 
the first engraved bond ever issued by the city of 
Lancaster, bearing date, 1851: 

"City of Lancaster, State of Pennsylvania: 
"Know all men by these presents that the city 

is indebted to bearer, in the sum of 

five hundred dollars lawful money of the United 
States of America, which sum the city does agree 

well and truly to pay to said or bearer 

on the .... day of in the year of our 

Lord eighteen hundred in the city of 

Lancaster, with interest at the rate of .... per 
cent, per annum, payable semi-annually on the 
first day of January and July in each year on de- 
livery of the annexed coupon at the office of the 
Treasurer of the city of Lancaster." 

In issuing this bond series, it was ordered that it 



BUILDING THE NEW JAIL 239 

be embellished with appropriate design and vignette 
at a cost "not exceeding $400." The bond was 
engraved in Philadelphia. 

If, then, the few holders were kept busy in cUpping 
off coupons at certain intervals, think of the busy 
time all holders of the "Liberty Bonds" will have 
along in June and December! It will enhance the 
price of scissors everywhere among the milhons of 
bond-holders. But as we close this chapter, why, 
it may be asked, should not the price of scissors go 
up, hke everything else under high heaven! There 
is only one thing in going up will find few objectors — 
the price of the "Liberty Bonds." And up they will 
go as reward to those who have gone to the nation's 
rescue in the hour of its greatest danger. All glory, 
then, to the champions of the "Red Cross" Fund! 



CHAPTER XIX 

Removal of Councils and Court from the Court 
House to Fulton Hall 

It is a well-established fact, quoted from the 
records of councils that, from 1818 down to 1855, 
this body was never known to meet in the city 
hall, their present place of meeting. As a rule 
their meeting place was in one of the upper rooms of 
the Center Square court house. It was there 
Christian Kieffer was elected for the second time, 
the sixth mayor in joint convention. The oath was 
administered by Judge Long in the presence of 
councilmen, officials and others. This meeting, as the 
records show, was held Tuesday, February 8, 1853. 

As the time was fast approaching when the court 
house was to be removed, other quarters had to be 
sought, not only for councils, but for the Court as 
well. The following preamble and resolutions were 
read severally and adopted by both councils, to wit: 

"Whereas, the Commissioners of Lancaster County 
have advertised for public sale on the eighth day of 
March next the building known as the Court House 
in the city of Lancaster at the junction of King and 
Queen Streets: And Whereas, the ground upon 
which said Court House is erected is situated in the 
middle of Center Square, and was given by the 
proprietors to certain persons in trust for the County 

240 



REMOVAL OF COUNCILS TO FULTON HALL 241 

of Lancaster for the erection of a court house to 
accommodate the pubHc service of said County and 
for the ease and convenience of the said inhabitants 
thereof and others having occasion to repair thither: 
And Whereas, the said County Commissioners have 
no right, claim or title to the ground occupied by 
the said court house except to use it as a court house 
and for no other purpose — 

"Therefore be it resolved by the Select and 
Common Councils of the city of Lancaster that the 
Mayor and presidents of councils be and they are 
hereby instructed to attend said sale and give public 
notice that the councils of the city of Lancaster in 
behalf of the people of said city and county of 
Lancaster claim the ground upon which said court 
house is built and that any persons who may bid 
for the same will do so at their peril." 

On examining the minutes of the County Com- 
missioners, we find that they did order the Court 
House removed "immediately after the Court of 
Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas have con- 
cluded their Sessions." And further, "That all 
courts be held in Fulton Hall until the new court 
house is completed. And that the County Com- 
missioners pay Mr. Hager five dollars per day for 
all Courts held in Fulton Hall, he to furnish sufficient 
light, and the County to pay for the fuel." 

That this meeting of February 8 was the last 
ever to be held in the court house is verified by a 
personal note affixed to the minutes by James C. 
Carpenter, for a score of years the efficient clerk of 
Select Councils: 



242 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

He made this record: "This is the last meeting 
to be held in the old court house, commencement of 
tearing down the fixtures on the lower floor, prepara- 
tory to its final removal, having already begun." 

Signed, "James C. Carpenter, Clerk of Select 
Councils,'' 

Singular as it may seem, this is also the last entry 
in the minute book closing February 8, 1853. The 
clerk must have been overcome with a feehng of 
sadness as he heard the sound of workmen engaged 
in desecrating this olden-time temple of justice. 
But these employees, he well knew, were only doing 
their duty under instructions of the commissioners. 

There are many stories concerning the use made 
of the material, some of the ornaments going to the 
new home of Newton Lightner, with others carried 
off by souvenir searchers for anything old. It has 
been said that the four-face clock was for a time in 
use in the belfry of the new com"t house, the corner 
stone of which was laid August 23, 1852, and, of 
course, not ready for occupancy by the courts until 
fully a year or two later. This accounts for their 
going to Fulton Hall during the interval elapsing, 
as has been stated. 

That the County Commissioners did order the 
building to be torn down is not to be questioned; 
nor was it against its removal that Councils pro- 
tested; it was the ground upon which it stood that 
the Commissioners were warned not to dispose of 
at public sale — that to do so would be at the pur- 
chaser's peril. It is evident from what has already 
been referred to that, after the building's removal, 



REMOVAL OF COUNCILS TO FULTON HALL 243 

the county had lost all right in the spot except where- 
on to build another court house. 

Having settled the question of right and owner- 
ship of the soil upon which the court house stood 
and which could not be carried away, we are now 
to draw from the minutes of Councils certain data 
relating to the ownership of city hall, spoken of at 
times by councihnen as the "State House," no 
doubt on account of its stately appearance. 

From the time it was erected down to 1854, it 
was occupied by county and state officials. In fact, 
it had become a question no longer in dispute, that, 
being built out of county funds, the city had no 
legal right to it or to any other part of the "one 
hundred and twenty feet square" which took in all 
of the space within this area including the market 
house over which Blue Lodge built their rooms in 
1798, also the space on which the present market 
house stands, erected along in the eighties of the 
past century. 

The narrator is prepared to state what occurred 
at a meeting of Councils, July 10, 1854, in their 
temporary quarters in Fulton Hall. 

"Resolved by the Select and Common Councils 
that the Mayor be instructed to negotiate with the 
County Commissioners for the absolute grant, bar- 
gain and sale of title and interest of the said County 
of Lancaster, of and in the property situate on the 
North West angle of West King and Market Square 
in said city, to embrace all the ground and buildings 
now used for county purposes for a consideration 
not exceeding the sum of six hundred and fifty 



244 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

dollars, payable on the execution and delivery of a 
sufficient deed of conveyance." 

While the chronicler has not come into possession 
of the deed of conveyance, what happened at a 
meeting of Councils September 12 following, will 
make clear that the deed was signed and delivered 
to the mayor of the city, otherwise, "Mr. Wise of 
the special committee would not have been ap- 
pointed to prepare plans for the alteration of city 
hall." He reported at another meeting, "That, 
after examination, they recommend the removal of 
the large stacks and fire places in the building and 
heating it with a furnace in the cellar; that the third 
story be fitted up for the Council Chamber, and each 
chamber to be provided with necessary desks and 
chairs to accommodate the members — the east 
room, designed for Common Council, to have 24 
seats and desks. President chair with appropriate 
desk and fixtures, and place for clerk and reporter 
in order to accommodate the meeting of both bodies 
in convention. 

"That the second story would not be suitable for 
Councils, being more within the reach of noise 
around the building, and could be rented for other 
purposes — That the east room of the lower story 
would make an excellent and commodious post office, 
with little alteration. The west room could be 
made into a comfortable Mayor's office, and portions 
of the cellar-way might be converted into a lock-up, 
all at the expense not exceeding one thousand 
dollars." This was concm-red in by Common 
Councils. 



REMOVAL OF COUNCILS TO FULTON HALL 245 

At a meeting, October 20, following, it was ordered 
that "The Presidents of Select and Common Coun- 
cils be authorized to sign bonds of a city loan to 
the amount of seven hundred dollars, and that the 
sum of $650 thereof be apphed to purchase the 
aforesaid State House and buildings, and the balance 
to be paid into the treasury. " 

With the purchase and fitting up of city hall, at 
the same October meeting, another loan of $5,000 
was authorized "to pay and complete the fom new 
market houses in course of erection, and that the 
Mayor be instructed to negotiate a loan on the 
best terms possible." This was followed by the 
report of the committee on the new market houses 
stating that the expenditures, including the price 
paid for the several properties to this time, amounted 
to $43,846, and that the receipts, including the 
special appropriation of $40,000, were $42,125, 
leaving a deficit of $1,725. 

The properties referred to were eleven in number, 
used for various purposes. However, this new 
market house must not be confused with the present 
brick structure standing in the place of the one long 
since removed, costing $40,000. Nor has it refer- 
ence to the building over which Blue Lodge have 
their rooms. 

At a meeting, January 10, 1854, it was ordered 
by Councils, "that arrangement be made with 
H. M. Reigart, postmaster, to get the post office in 
the building adjoining that of the Mayor's new 
quarters-to-be. Also, that any part of city hall not 
otherwise engaged be let for exhibition purposes 



246 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

until such time as alterations be made for the con- 
venience of Councils and other departments of the 
town government." 

The first organization to ask permission to meet 
in an upper room of city hall was the Young Men's 
Christian Association, and which was granted. 

At a convention of Councilmen held in Fulton 
Hall, February 3, 1855, Jacob Albright was elected 
the seventh mayor, and sworn into office by Judge 
Hayes. 

On March 3, as the records show, the Mayor, 
Councils and other officials of the town government 
went from Fulton Hall to their new permanent 
quarters in city hall, where they have resided 
officially ever since down to the incoming year 1918. 
But the end is not yet; it was at a meeting, December 
23, 1856, that the property committee reported that 
they "had rented the room to the postmaster, 
H. B. Swarr, for a term of four years at the same 
price Mr. Reigart had been paying, to be used as a 
post office and nothing else." 

Postmaster Swarr held the office under Mr. Bu- 
chanan until 1861, when Mr. John J. Cochran was 
appointed by President Lincoln. 

Of the twenty-two postmasters in the borough and 
city of Lancaster, the first was Samuel Turbett in 
1790. He was succeeded by the following: John 
Stone, Henry Wilcox, Wilham Hamilton, George 
Moore, his wife Ann, Mary Dickson, George W. 
Hammerly, H. M. Reigart, Hiram B. Swarr, John 
J. Cochran, H. W. Hager, Ellen H. Hager, James 
H. Marshall, H. E. Slaymaker, Elwood Griest, 



REMOVAL OF COUNCILS TO FULTON HALL 247 

John E. Malone, Elwood Griest, Adam C. Reinoehl, 
S. Clay Miller, H. L. Trout, Louis W. Spencer, the 
present postmaster. 

As has aheady been referred to, we have no means 
of knowing where or in what building the first post- 
office was held in 1790. However, it was not during 
the whole of these one hundred and twenty-nine 
years that the delivery man was in evidence. For 
years there were no postage stamps like at the 
present day for souvenir collectors or no government 
envelopes. And yet, people are not satisfied to rest 
over the Sabbath. What the letter carrier did not 
bring them on Sunday, they called for at the office- 
window until Uncle Sam concluded to give the over- 
worked officials a day's rest to attend church service. 

Whether the officials are underpaid or overpaid 
we do not know. What all have reason to know is 
that they are most welcome visitors, provided there 
be a ring at the door-bell at least three times daily. 
During years gone by they were usually handed a 
small stipend on each Christmas. It used to be the 
same with the newspaper carrier lad, and who, 
after handing in his almanac souvenir embeUished 
with a picture, received sometimes a nickel, at others, 
a dime, and from the kindly disposed a quarter or, 
maybe, a half dollar. And since we come to think 
it over, these free-givers have never been forgotten 
by once newsboys. So, in closing this chapter, do 
not fail to be kindly disposed toward the boys! 
They, as a class, have long memories, and seldom 
forget favors to buy goodies with! All boys have 
appetites for goodies ! And it is better that coppers 



248 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

go for these delicacies than to burn a hole in their 
pockets. Again, before closing, have you ever 
thought why boy trousers have pockets anyway? 
Dress a six-year old in pantaloons without pockets 
and you can imagine the result. They are not 
simply to be filled with slate pencils, a jacknife 
and other worthless odds and ends, but with paddy 
cakes and ginger horses! Every school ought to 
have a paddy cake shop in which goodies are dealt 
out instead of too much of the non-essentials of the 
present-day school room curriculum. 



CHAPTER XX 

Lancaster Jockey Club. Two-Forty on the 
Plank Road for Speeders 

If anyone is predisposed to the opinion that 
clubs of any and all kind are pecuhar to this twentieth 
century, and particularly to "New Lancaster," his 
opinion must undergo change after reading of the 
"Gentlemen's Jockey Club," one of "Old Lan- 
caster's" famous organizations. It was started as 
far back as the year 1830 by the town's sporting 
fraternity. 

Its rules and regulations would lead one to suppose 
that its members were imbued with a desire to im- 
prove conditions which had hitherto prevailed among 
the drivers of fast horses. Printed in pamphlet 
form, the club's rules were set forth as follows: 

"For the encouragement and breed of fine horses, 
which all experience has proved is best promoted by 
occasional trials of speed and strength; and for the 
prevention of that vicious dissipation, which is too 
common on such occasions, unless the races are 
under the direction of an association, empowered 
and determined to prevent it by the exhibition 
races respectably conducted. The subscribers there- 
fore agree to unite and form a society which shall 
be stiled 'The Lancaster Jockey Club' for the en- 
couragement of the breed of fine horses." 

18 249 



250 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

For the preservation of harmony and good order, 
as the twenty-two rules and articles of the club 
indicated, it consisted of one hundred members 
with an annual fee of ten dollars, payable in advance. 
Its membership was not confined alone to Lancaster. 
It included the owners of fast horses from various 
sections of other states known for their respect- 
ability and standing. 

As only a few of the club's provisions need be 
mentioned, these ran as foUows: "The officers shall 
have entire control over the place where the races 
may be given, and it shall be the special duty of the 
officers to prohibit all gambling; that no cards, dice, 
tables, boards or cloths of any kind or description, 
shall be suffered. No member shall suffer any 
gambling on his horse, or within the sphere of his 
control. 

"Every rider at starting must be dressed neatly 
and cleanly, in boots or half boots, leather or nan- 
keen breeches or pantaloons, white shirt, jockey cap 
and silk jacket, with sleeves; in default thereof, the 
horse, mare or gelding, to be rode by such rider, 
shall not be permitted to start. And if two or 
more riders shall appear dressed in the same uni- 
form, the rider of the first horse entered shall have 
preference. And the time between heats shall be 
twenty minutes for mile heats, twenty-five for two- 
mile heats, thirty for three-mile heats, and forty 
for four-mile heats. The Judges shall give the 
word, 'Are you ready '.^ 

"The course shall measure one mile, and the 
following shall be the weight to be carried, viz.. 



LANCASTER JOCKEY CLUB 251 

Aged horses 126 lbs.; six year old, 120; five year old, 
112, four year old, 102, three year old, 88. The 
Stewards shall provide a good set of scales with 
good weights, for the use of the club. After the 
races are over, the result shall be pubhshed in the 
American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine, 
and in the papers of Lancaster. 

"Riders, josthng, whipping each other, or each 
other's horses, is foul riding; and every rider guilty 
of infringing the rules, shall be deemed distanced, 
and the rider rendered incapable of riding any nag, 
for any prize of this association." 

For many years this was known as "The Lan- 
caster Gentlemen's Jockey Club" composed of all 
reputable owners of fast horses. Where or in what 
part of the city the club's race track was located, 
we have no means of knowing. Enough has been 
shown, however, that it might have continued down 
to the early fifties when "The Manheim, Petersburg 
and Lancaster Plank Road Company" came to 
throw a halo of glory over the spirits of all owners of 
fast horses. 

It was on September 13, 1852, that a committee 
was appointed by Councils to "ascertain on what 
terms a settlement could be made between said 
company and the city growing out of the condition 
of North Queen street over which the plank road 
extended to James." 

The plank road! Of course, it was not a turn- 
pike, but it was built beside one, extending clear 
through to the old town of Manheim, pretty much 
as the trolley at the present day along other pikes. 



252 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

Most elderly people have no doubt heard the 
once familiar expression, "Two-forty on the Plank 
Road"! When it was first conceived, it was looked 
upon by some of the older members of the "Jockey 
Club" with unmixed pleasure. And now a word or 
two as to how it was constructed. Planks nine or 
ten feet long and two inches thick were laid on 
stringers with turnouts to avoid a coUision. But, 
at last, as the planks began to flare up at their ends, 
the sporters' joys came to an untimely end. And 
so ended the "two-forty" on the plank road leading 
to the town of Manheim. 

Years later came the electric car, to be followed 
by the automobile, the greatest champion for good 
roads the world has ever seen since the dawn of 
history. Their only disadvantages are the habit of 
stirring up the dust, and turning turtle occasionally 
after striking a trolley pole. Whether poles were 
planted to be struck, we have no means of knowing. 
That they are struck, all drivers of cars well know. 
They seem to have a pecuUar fascination for striking 
poles in turning out in giving up the middle of the 
road to some obstreperous farmer in his dear- 
born. At times an automobile has been known to 
go tearing through a gate, and all for the saving, 
not the toll, but to see how far they can go with the 
least consumption of gasoline ! 

It used to be said that the man who rode in a 
sulky was always in danger of the axle breaking in 
the center, causing the two wheels to grasp the 
lone rider back of the ears. Again, even in ye 
olden times a stage coach was hable to overturn. 




1 < 

•, DC 



^^«-- 



hhI 



LANCASTER JOCKEY CLUB 253 

spilling its passengers into a ditch. So, things have 
never been so bad but that they might not be 
worse! No! nothing can be worse than to be scared 
out of one's wits by the blowing of the abominable 
auto-horn! 

It is at times pleasing to note how the proceedings 
of Councils have always something old yet new to 
suggest. And now, ye young students of Frankhn 
and Marshall, give eye to what is to follow. It was 
on the 25th of July, 1854, that the Select and Com- 
mon Councils met by invitation to "join in pro- 
cession with the Trustees and patrons of the college 
to their new home in the Northwestern part of the 
city." 

The old brick college from which the procession 
started stood on Lime Street opposite where stood 
the Schroeder mansion. At the time, more than 
sixty years ago, people wondered what had ever 
possessed the management to locate so far out in 
the country ! And country it was to all intents and 
purposes. But not so today! By some it was 
intimated that the trustees wanted to get their 
students out of the hurly-burly of town-life. For a 
time the college stood almost alone on an extended 
plot. But it was not long until came residences 
with macadam roads and well-laid pavements along 
the thoroughfares. And who can predict what 
another six decades may have in store for Franklin 
and Marshall with its bathing resort during the 
summer and a skating rink dm*ing the winter. 
Known as "Buchanan Park," what a magnificent 
resort it has become, even if it did cost one hundred 



254 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

thousand dollars of the taxpayers' money! It 
might have gone for a less useful purpose! 

In closing this chapter, the chronicler has a letter 
before him from a gentleman who was born in "Old 
Lancaster" in the year 1834, at present a resident 
of the Cumberland Valley. Never having met the 
writer, its contents at once reawakened an interest 
in the Hfe and career of Mr. Stevens. 

"Having read your 'Cherished Memories,' kindly 
loaned the writer by one of your city friends, it was 
after learning of your intention to write a narrative 
of the town of my birth, that prompted one of over 
four-score to relate an episode or two which are at 
your disposal, provided there is still room for what 
the relater has had stored in memory since a boy 
in his teens. And since your lady-readers seldom 
read a book without a love story woven therein, one 
shall be told occiu'ring back in the middle forties. 
As it goes, there resided on Mulberry Street opposite 
Shreiner's graveyard, a most beautiful young lady 
with many admirers among the young men of the 
town. If all were persistent in their attentions, 
there was one among the number who persisted in 
outdoing his rivals for the hand and heart of one 
who shall be designated Miss Maggie Remson. 

"For a fortnight the ardent young lover was 
always on hand, and at such an early evening horn- 
as to turn all the rest of his rivals homeward bound. 
Having at last popped the question to Miss Maggie, 
with what he considered a favorable response, made 
or impHed, off one cold, snowy December evening, 



LANCASTER JOCKEY CLUB 255 

he ran his way, never stopping until he had reached 
the parsonage of the Rev. Glessner, favorably 
known at the time, beloved by all who knew him 
well and intimately. 

"TelKng him of his mission, away together they 
went through the storm to the young lady's residence. 
Reaching the knob of the door, to the lover's surprise, 
he found it locked to all outside intruders. Rap, 
rap! No response came from within. Moments 
followed as they stood shivering from the cold wind 
with the temperature near the zero-point. 

"At last, kneehng and placing his hps to the 
key hole, he called in pitiful tone, ' Maggie ! Maggie, 
why don't you open the door? Don't you know the 
parson is here to tie the marriage knot?' As no 
reply came, with the hght burning brightly within, 
and the parson shivering without, he continued his 
pleadings, 'Oh, you cruel Maggie, You'll repent of 
this sooner or later!' With this threat falling on 
the ears of Miss Maggie, at last the door flew wide 
open. Entering the parlor, it was found deserted 
with no prospective bride in evidence. At last, in 
she stepped, and as the ceremony was about to 
be performed, turning on her heel she haughtily 
exclaimed, ' I-am-not-going-to-get-married-this-e ve- 
rting. I have changed my mind, so I have!' 

"What followed is a scene indescribable, as the 
disconcerted young lover, on bent knee, implored 
her to change her mind. This, after some pleading, 
she did, still manifesting her former haughty de- 
meanor. 

"Stepping forward, the Rev. Glessner exclaimed 



256 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

in low, sympathetic tone, ' Since you. Miss Maggie, 
have changed your own mind so suddenly, I have 
also changed mine. The reason I have to give is, 
that after the wedding ceremony you may want to 
change it again in seeking a divorce. But listen to 
reason. Dry your tears. Calm yourselves. If two 
weeks hence both are of the same mind, come to 
my parsonage, and I will perform the marriage 
ceremony.'" 

As the Rev. Glessner was later overheard to say: 
"At the appointed hour they came as happy as 
two children; and so, happily they went their way, 
not by any means forgetting the marriage-fee." 
But the sequel is to follow: For some years they 
lived together, when the end came; both being laid 
to rest in Shreiner's graveyard. 

"And now to the sequel: Later, after returning 
from the war, it was my pleasure in visiting the city 
of my nativity, to go strolhng through this almost 
abandoned graveyard in looking up the tombs of 
the departed Maggie and her husband when my 
eyes took in the monument of another I had seen 
many a time in the Penn Square court house. Re- 
calhng as it did pleasing reminiscences of other 
days, homeward I went my way almost forgetful 
of my visit to Shreiner's graveyard. And it was not 
until reading in a Lancaster paper later of an attempt 
to exhibit on canvas a scene reflecting on one with 
whom father had been so intimately acquainted, 
that the thought occurred of giving your readers a 
short sketch of the great 'Commoner.' 

"This 'emancipationist,' as he was known even 



LANCASTER JOCKEY CLUB 257 

before his advent into your city during the middle 
forties, had aheady achieved fame not conferred upon 
him by either chance or favor. Long years as a 
plodder, first with Blackstone, later with other law- 
books, had placed him above asking favors from any 
of the town's practitioners with whom he was to 
measure swords not only in his adopted city and 
county, but in the higher courts as well. 

"Having purchased a house wherein he could 
dwell among his law books, not to be found in any 
of the taverns, what he needed most was a house- 
keeper to look after his bachelor wants. In a 
certain town the name of which has escaped my 
memory, he had known one of color respected by all 
who knew her, but having married, another of equal 
character was recommended. This colored woman 
had two sons by her marriage. But no sooner had 
she installed herself and sons in a frame house in 
the rear of the bachelor's residence than the tongues 
of gossip began to wabble that this fifty-year-old 
attorney was hving on perfect equality with a negro 
woman, which meant a failure to observe the well- 
established system of social ethics which prevailed 
among all classes of the town's social life. 

"As father would frequently say, this was the 
opportunity his pohtical enemies were awaiting, and 
among the first to charge him with the buying up 
of votes were those most jealous of his political 
ascendency. Apart from this, who, it may be asked, 
was this colored woman .^ As a boy we had seen her 
on the streets as a dignified, high-minded lady of 
color, in no way pronounced, and yet with colored 



258 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

blood in her veins. Of medium height, if not 
prepossessing in the eyes of her defamers, as a 
conversationahst she was exceedingly entertaining. 
Knowing well the position she had assmned, she 
at all times went her way as a consistent Cathohc, 
and who later was buried in St. Mary's cemetery, 
of the church of which she was a member. 

"Of one thing to her credit, this much can be 
said, without fear of successful contradiction, that, 
down to the close of the great Commoner's career, 
covering nearly thirty years, Lydia attended him 
with all the tenderness of a true woman! 

"But what was the attitude of this great lawyer 
and statesman as history shows? Did he drag his 
vihfiers into Court? No! He spurned them as he 
gradually overreached the great majority. 

"Rather a singular coincidence, say you not, my 
author friend, that these two episodes should follow 
one the other? And yet, follow they have from a 
man well past his four-score with memory, however, 
undimmed by age. And now, before bringing this 
long letter to a close, I was an intimate friend of 
Charhe Wise, and recall the time his father took 
him to a city in North CaroHna where, after making 
an ascension himself, Charlie entered the balloon. 
Reaching terra firma in safety, he was presented 
with a fawn deer by the girls, which he brought 
home to Lancaster with him. Over this, we boys 
had much pleasure. 

"One other thrilling occurrence yet to be men- 
tioned — the murder of the Melchor Fortney family, 
that took place Saturday, October 20, 1845. The 



LANCASTER JOCKEY CLUB 259 

whole town seemed to have gathered nearly opposite 
where Woodward Hill Cemetery since has been 
located. Everywhere the cry went out, ' Hang him, 
hang him!' And hung Haggarty was, in the yard 
of the old stone jail at the corner of Prince and 
West King." 

With this ends my octogenarian's letter — the man 
whom it has never been the narrator's pleasure to 
meet. However, it would seem that surprises are 
sure to follow, one the other, for no sooner had the 
Stevens episode been quoted than came an invitation 
from Blue Lodge No. 43 to attend the celebration 
of James Buchanan's hundredth year as a member 
of said Lodge. 

Recalhng both James Buchanan and Thaddeus 
Stevens, never were two statesmen, residing in the 
same city, so different in their personal and pohtical 
procUvities. Neither was to the manor-born. James 
Buchanan, while a native of Pennsylvania, was born 
in 1791, and died in Lancaster in 1868, at the age 
of seventy-seven. Thaddeus Stevens, born in New 
England in 1792, died in Lancaster, the same year, 
1868, at the age of seventy-six. 

Mr. Buchanan entered the United States Senate 
in 1844; Mr. Stevens, Congress, along about the 
same time. It has been said that they only spoke 
on one occasion — over a law suit. And why, it 
may be asked, came I, as a boy to hke Mr. Stevens, 
and dishke Mr. Buchanan? For the reason that 
my father, being a Whig, Hked the one and dishked 
the other, poHtically speaking. And how could it 
be otherwise after hearing Mr. Buchanan spoken of 



260 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

in the campaign of '56, as "Ten-cent Jimmy"! 
The moral — never speak disparagingly of any one 
in presence of yom* children. It is sure to leave a 
deep, lasting impression, not so easily to be elimi- 
nated in after years! More men have been swayed 
in their political proclivities through prejudice than 
from conviction. It is cruel, heartless! Give every 
boy a chance to form conclusions of his own without 
prejudicing his young natiu-e in favor of opinions 
ofttimes based on prejudice or political availabihtyl 



CHAPTER XXI 

Changes in City Life are Like the Changes 

OF the Seasons 

It has been a long endless search and research 
among the records in finding the names of those 
who for one hundred and seventy-six years were 
engaged in building Lancaster as we find it almost 
to the present day. Of the number, including the 
burgesses and their assistants, the great majority 
have passed over the River of Time, leaving the 
work for other hands to finish. To finish? No 
city has ever been finished — it is forever undergoing 
change, sometimes by repair, at others by extension. 
With most municipahties, more time has been given 
to undoing what has been done amiss than to have 
built up an entirely new city from start to finish. 
Few men live long enough to see the error of their 
way of doing things. Their own judgment, they 
think, is never to be questioned by incoming gener- 
ations. 

In the building of the market house in 1798, 
when the burgesses gave the right in perpetuity to 
Blue Lodge, No. 43, to erect a hall over it, they 
thought their action could never be questioned. 
And yet, mark what happened. The Councils had 
hardly more than entered city hall in 1855, than the 
question arose as "to the ownership of the whole 

261 



262 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

of the market house including the lodge rooms." 
Finding on due examination that the city's title to 
it was faulty, a committee was appointed to confer 
with a similar committee of the lodge. The piu-pose 
was to ascertain on what terms they would be wilhng 
to vacate, provided that "nothing shall be construed 
to impair the title which the city already has to a 
room 'always to be at the disposal of the city.'" 

The reply was such as might have been expected 
on the principle that "possession is nine points of 
the law." Shown the deed of agreement entered 
into between the burgesses and lodge, what redress 
had councils? And as for the room to be at the 
disposal of the Corporation, and later the city, it 
has remained in undisputed possession of Lodge No. 
43 ever since, with no disposition on the part of the 
city to lay claim to it. 

This is the story of the market house, substantiated 
by the actions of burgesses as far back as 1798. 
With city hall, the councilmanic minutes make it 
clear that its title rests in possession of the city 
of Lancaster. Of course, the legal mind may have 
recourse to data setting aside all that the council 
records show. 

Adjoining the market house on the West King 
Street side stood a vacant space formerly called 
"Union Court," embracing along said street 16 feet, 
and extending back 40 feet; this Lodge No. 43 
bought from the city for the sum of $2,685.31. 
On this the lodge erected a "plain, substantial 
three-story building, the first story for store rooms, 
the second and third stories for Lodge purposes. 



CHANGES IN CITY LIFE 263 

After the sale, Councils laid out another street and 
which they named "Market" with the Hager store 
as its western boundary. With this ends the long 
drawn-out htigation running from 1798 down through 
succeeding years. 

That the members of Councils were sensitive to 
criticism of their duties, may be seen from the 
following. At a meeting hurriedly called during the 
year 1857, came a resolution in defence of the 
honesty and integrity of councilmen. It was offered 
in Select Councils. "Whereas, it has been very 
generally alleged against the integrity of city authori- 
ties, in the purchase of material, and in doing work 
for the city, strongly impHcating the Councils and 
those acting under them of furnishing worthless 
material at exorbitant prices, and in doing the most 
worthless kind of work at extravagant rates, that a 
proper regard for the municipal character of the 
city, and a proper sense of self respect demand the 
adoption of such decided action as will at once 
remove the disgraceful imputation so frequently 
cast upon the integrity of the city authorities; 

"Therefore be it resolved that, after the passage 
of this resolution, no member of either Councils, 
agent, employee of the city, shall purchase any 
kind of material, goods, wares, lumber, or other 
articles, or to contract to do, make, execute or 
perform any kind or description of work whatsoever 
for the city." 

This resolution was adopted unanimously by a 
rising vote. So much impressed was one member 
with a sensitive conscience as to cause him to rise 



264 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

and offer the following, "Resolved, that the Rev. 
Shultze be invited to open the proceedings of both 
councils with prayer." Sent to Common Councils 
for concurrence, it was voted down unanimously, 
showing that this body had not as yet become 
conscience-stricken! Glancing over the returns of 
the following election, nowhere could be found the 
name of the mover of the resolution to "open 
Councils with prayer," indicating that the voters 
were not in sympathy with Select Council's course 
of procedure. And yet, no good reason can be 
given why all corporate bodies should not be opened 
with prayer. 

Diu-ing the month of July, 1857, it was announced 
in councils that "the second reservoir built beside 
the first was ready to be filled, owing to the great 
scarcity of water to supply the city." At the meet- 
ing of August, so alarming had conditions become, 
as to make it necessary for the Water Committee to 
"contract with the * Lancaster Locomotive Com- 
pany ' for the erection of a steam engine and boilers 
of sufficient capacity to pump daily 1,000,000 
gallons, and of one hundred horse power, to be 
placed in the City Mill at a cost not exceeding 
$7,540." This resolution was concurred in by 
Common Councils. 

Along about this time the Water Committee was 
floundering round hke a ship in a turbulent sea of 
uncertainty, with a scanty supply one day, and little 
or none the next. Whether an extra engine was 
placed in the station pumping 1,000,000 daily, no 
mention is to be found in the minutes of councils. 



CHANGES IN CITY LIFE 265 

What is well known at the present day is that over 
six milHon gallons are either used or wasted every 
twenty-four hours. But as the Conestoga River 
water has always been considered both a necessity 
and a luxury, in this one article of consumption 
economy is seldom practiced. Think for a moment 
how much water, and filtered at that, costing $55,000 
annually is wasted by the running of but one spigot 
nightly. Then multiply the wasted gallons by such 
number of dwellers you may have in mind, and a 
tolerably fair estimate can be reached of how much 
is used, how much wasted unnecessarily. They say 
a "penny saved is a penny earned." The chronicler 
can only emphasize this axiom by saying that if 
you want your water rent reduced, cut out all wastes. 
Do not allow the spigot to be running all winter to 
prevent the pipes from freezing, or all summer to 
keep a few "catties" ahve. 

Among the failures of the panic of 1857 came, the 
year following, the "Lancaster Locomotive and 
Machine Manufacturing Company." For several 
years prior it had been one of Lancaster's most 
thriving industries. Nor were failiu-es to end; for, 
about this time, there was at least one bank failure, 
bringing distress to depositors, with a cloud of 
suspicion on directors and officers. However, this 
was the first failure since the branch bank of Penn- 
sylvania went into Hquidation. But how fortunate 
have depositors since been with but two possible 
exceptions. Nowhere in the United States are 
banks more prosperous than in Lancaster City and 
County. 
19 



266 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

We are now to reach a measure of considerable 
interest to the people engaged in solving the problem 
of the passenger station. If reference has already 
been made as to the location of the present depot, 
no harm can be done by a repetition. At the 
December meeting of councils, 1858, an ordinance 
was presented to the Select branch by Thomas H. 
Burrowes, the ninth mayor, who succeeded John 
Zimmerman. This ordinance was "relative to the 
grant of certain property and privileges by the city 
of Lancaster to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company 
in two sections: 

" Section 1, Grant in fee simple the piece of ground 
at the North East angle of North Queen and Chest- 
nut Streets, whenever by a resolution of the Board 
of Directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 
they will erect a Passenger station on the ground, 
and which resolution by said company shall be 
presented to the Mayor, with a clause that the 
grant shall be void if such depot shall not be erected 
within one year from the passage of this ordinance — 

"Section 2 — Grants the Company for the use of 
the building the privilege to build over the public 
alley between North Queen and Duke streets, at a 
height of twelve feet or more, and to cross said 
alley and Prince street, with such additional track 
or tracks, and at such points, with such directions 
and grades as the Company may divise, so as not 
to prevent the ordinary travel along said street and 
alleys." 

The title of the bill being read, "it was agreed 
by three fourths of members present." And so 



CHANGES IN CITY LIFE 267 

Common Councils was informed. "This body re- 
turned the ordinance as having been concurred in 
as passed by the Select branch." 

We have no means of knowing what action was 
taken by the Pennsylvania Raihoad Company, but 
as the depot was started and completed a year or 
two later, there can be no doubt that the ordinance 
was accepted by the company. 

The chronicler has made dihgent search through 
the Council's proceedings, to find if the ordinance 
contained a clause that the passenger station was 
never to be removed from its present location. In 
this he has not been successful. Some claim that 
such a provision is somewhere on record, but as 
for the narrator, in his search and research, it is 
not anywhere to be found in the councilmanic 
records. According to the grant, it was given in 
fee-simple without any conditions as to whether 
the ground was to revert back to the city at any 
time the depot might be removed. By referring to 
chapter five, the reader's memory may be refreshed 
as to what occurred between the Canal Com- 
missioners and the city and, later, the Pennsylvania 
Raihoad Company. At all times the minutes of 
Councils have been the narrator's only guide, with 
no opinion pro nor con as to where the passenger 
depot should or should not be located. If, then, 
what has been set forth will aid the Chamber of 
Commerce in finding a solution for the vexed prob- 
lem, the chronicler's time has not been altogether 
wasted ! 

Between the years of fifty and sixty, as has been 



268 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

said, the inhabitants were in a constant state of 
alarm, owing to the many fires breaking out, with a 
scanty water supply. It was only natural that 
various opinions should find expression among 
councilmen as to the cause of these conflagrations. 
By one member of the Fire Committee, it was openly 
declared that the great majority of these incendiary 
acts were to be charged to "irresponsible members 
of companies for the 'fun' of engaging in a *free 
fight.'" This was no overdrawn statement. The 
difficulty was to catch the perpetrator with sufficient 
evidence to bring about conviction. That there 
were " irresponsibles " connected with this or that 
company is made only too clear by the Councils' 
minutes. But, as has already been said, the great 
majority were law-abiding citizens. Not a few 
had dedicated their lives to the cause which the 
volunteer department represented. The hose-house 
was their place of rendezvous, where not a few 
fingered night and day, ready to respond to a "call." 
Plenty of men can recall the intense excitement 
which prevailed in and out of Councils when it 
was proposed to substitute the "paid" for that of 
the volunteer system. Of course, the chief oppo- 
sition came from these organizations, all-powerful 
at the time as pofitical factors. For over a century 
they were as stable as the laws of the Medes and 
Persians, composed as they were of the bone and 
sinew of the townstead. Nor were doctors, lawyers 
and even the clergy above lending their names and 
influence, usually distinguished as honorary mem- 
bers, and liberally disposed in giving financial sup- 



CHANGES IN CITY LIFE 269 

port in addition to what Councils ofttimes dealt out 
sparingly. Whether this or that member of the 
"cloth" had ever engaged in a "free fight," is not 
Hkely. His duty was to officiate over the remains 
of one who had either fallen at his post of duty or 
as the result of a scrimmage. All honor to the 
memory of those who in years gone by were ever 
active in a good cause! And as for the present, 
"paid department," costly as it would seem, re- 
quiring an appropriation of $30,000 yearly, the 
expenditure is but a mere bagatelle when safety of 
lives and property are considered. All that is 
needed to make this department at all times still 
more efficient is plenty of Conestoga water. 

At an adjourned meeting in 1857, came a message 
from the mayor, "favoring the granting one of the 
upper rooms of city hall to certain societies for 
literary and scientific purposes free of charge." 
The third floor was granted to the School Board 
for their meetings, and there they held forth until 
they went their way to the Administration Building. 
Many still recall the Linnsean Society under the 
auspices of the late S. S. Rathvon, John Kevinski 
and others. It is a pleasure to recall the names of 
departed friends, is it not? 

In the preface, written before the volume was 
started, reference was made to Lancaster's social 
life, its Hberahty in financing every charitable enter- 
prise, but when, or at any time in the town's history, 
has a grander outpom-ing been known than that 
which has crowned the efforts of the workers for the 
Red Cross Fund.^ 



270 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

From all classes, the rich and from others less 
well to do, has come a most generous response! 
And after this and the taking of the "Liberty Loan," 
who can say that the name Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 
is not on the map with a big "M "? 

And as to Lancaster's commercial, industrial and 
financial enterprises, the great majority of our 
manufacturing establishments are only partly known 
to our people who seldom get further than along the 
four principal thoroughfares. If you want to see 
"New Lancaster" at its best, apart from its social 
life, enter the hundreds of workshops during the 
busy part of the day. In these industries you will 
find the bone and sinew of our town's prosperity ! 

Then watch the trolley cars as they unload their 
hundreds from every part of a great county! And 
not to forget the Automobile Association! The 
only objection the chronicler has against the auto 
owners is that they do not pay half as much tax as 
they should for stirring up the dust and wearing 
out the streets. But let us be patient, all-forgiving 
even to the "horn," the greatest nerve-destroyer 
that Lancaster has ever seen or heard! With love 
for all and malice toward none, this chapter closes. 



CHAPTER XXII 

Nine Years of Municipal Rule of the Much- 
Respected George Sanderson 

Following Mayor Thomas H. Burrowes, who 
resigned to accept the position of president of State 
College, came George Sanderson, a most worthy 
elderly gentleman, well and favorably known for his 
conservatism in following the trend of many of his 
predecessors in letting well enough alone. He was 
elected in 1859, and held the oiSice until succeeded 
by William Augustus Atlee in 1868 and who served 
two years under the new charter dividing the four 
wards into nine. 

As a singular coincidence worthy of pohtical note, 
during the nearly thirty years following from 1868 
to 1900, when a change was made, it was from a 
Republican to a Democrat and vice versa. It was 
only after Mayor Shissler's term ended that a Re- 
pubKcan was followed by a Republican down to the 
present year, 1917. These three decades, pohtically 
speaking, were the most exciting through which the 
city had ever passed. Following the conflict, with 
the return of the soldiers, the war-feeling which it 
had engendered became the more pronounced, lead- 
ing to a bitterness of feehng never since equaled. 

Mayor Sanderson, the tenth in hne, was sworn into 
office by I. Franklin Reigart, City Recorder, after 

271 



272 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

he himself had taken the oath of office. As the 
manuscript from which the inaugural was delivered 
is quite lengthy, full of promises as to how the city 
ought to be governed, it might find place in the vol- 
ume had it differed from other state papers from the 
time of John Passmore down through succeeding 
years. Each seemed to be patterned after that of 
the preceding mayor's — the less the promises ful- 
filled, the greater the chance of a reelection. 

For nine yearly consecutive terms, Mayor Sander- 
son had done the best he knew how at a salary of 
not over five hundred dollars per annum. But as 
the city, financially speaking, was as poor as himself, 
what he lacked in compensation was offset by the 
honor the office carried with it. 

It would be untimely to measure all mayors by 
the same yardstick. Each in turn was subject to 
conditions over which he had no control. There 
have been years when little except a certain routine 
of duty was required. To pay an hour's visit to 
the station house, and then possibly go about his 
private business, seemed to be all the public service 
required. But within a few short years all has 
changed; the mayor has his duties to perform, and 
one of these is to be always on hand to meet those 
with grievances, or sohcitors for help. And, as a 
rule, the mayor of every city is among the first to 
be called upon for help, help, help. 

We cannot recall our present mayor's salary, but 
whatever it may be, it ought to be doubled. And 
as for the multipficity of co-workers in the various 
departments of the pubHc service, sometimes re- 



NINE YEARS' RULE BY GEORGE SANDERSON 273 

ferred to as "hangers-on to the pubhc crib," there 
is not one who is not earning his salary. 

Tax-payers are the most relentless people in the 
world. If given to smiling, this is suppressed on 
entering the treasurer's office. A good many will 
use the city water, or waste it with impunity, and 
all for about five cents a thousand gallons, and 
then growl at the exorbitant charge for the same! 

Mention having been made of the city poor in 
years gone by is not intended as a reflection. Fi- 
nancially speaking, down to the close of the Civil 
War, the closest economy was practiced in all cities. 
And the city of Lancaster as a municipality was no 
exception. It will seem surprising when shown that 
at no time from 1855 down to 1868 did the receipts 
and expenditures from all sources wherewith to 
run the town government exceed fifty-one thousand 
dollars annually. 

At the March meeting of 1865, the Finance Com- 
mittee presented the report for the present fiscal 
year as follows : 

Receipts 

Tax of 90 cents per 100 on property value of 

$3,500,000 $31,500.00 

Water Rent from Duplicate 10,650.00 

Water Rent from Pennsylvania R. R. Co 600.00 

From licenses, fines and forfeits 200.00 

From Meirket Rents including arrearages 2,300.00 

Rent of city property 375.00 

Additional tax in default of payment 300.00 

Refunded quota from County for bridges and 

road damages 113.62 

Balance in the treasury at close of year 1,682.79 

Total amount of revenue $47,721.41 



274 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

Expenditures 

1. To pay interest on Corporation Loans $20,443,72 

2. To pay temporary loans 6,700.00 

3. To pay for grading and repair of streets. . . . 1,000.00 

4. To pay lighting streets in winter and dark 

nights 3,100.00 

5. To pay Fire Companies 950.00 

6. To pay salaries 5,297.00 

7. To pay sum due Sinking Fund 600.00 

8. To pay Water Works expenses 3,000.00 

9. To pay abatement for prompt payment of 

city taxes 1,250.00 

10. To pay abatement water rent 350.00 

11. To pay for collection of taxes 400.00 

12. To pay night watchmen during three winter 

months for ninety days at $1.50 each 

night 1,620.00 

13. To pay contingences 3,010.69 

Whole amount of expenditures during the 

year 1865 was $47,721.41 

Accompanying the report was the following: 
"Resolved that beheving in and wishing to adhere 
strictly to the poHcy of hmiting the expenditures 
to the appropriations in order that no deficiences 
may be created in any year to be provided for in 
the next, and at the same time deeming it but a 
measure of justice that the compensation of the 
city officials should be proportionate to the value 
of their services and the cost of the necessaries of 
life, it is considered proper that now at the com- 
mencement of the fiscal year, their salaries be perma- 
nently fixed. 

"High Constable $500 per annum. Each of the 
four city constables, $400; Street Commissioner, 
$500; Superintendent of the Water Works, $600; 



NINE YEARS' RULE BY GEORGE SANDERSON 275 

Machinist, $500; Market Master, $200; Principal 
Regulator when employed, $2.50 per day, Assistants, 
$1.75; Lockup Keeper, $84 per annum; Night 
Watchman, $1.50 per night." Fortunately, no 
change was recommended for city officials, the total 
amount appropriated for these being $4,000. And 
yet, for positions there were then as now, plenty of 
appUcants. 

The whole corporate debt was $348,612.02 

Sinking Fund 49,367.06 

Outstanding debt $299,244.96 

A half century later, or in this year 1917, the 
receipts and expenditures for running the city 
government amounts to over $470,000, with a 
permanent debt of something hke $700,000, the 
greater portion of which is to be charged to water 
and street improvements. 

By the census of 1860 the population was, in 
round numbers, 17,000; today it is over 50,000. 
What, it may be asked, has caused this tremendous 
yearly increase of expenditures? Up to the close 
of the war, the city was at a standstill; as the report 
shows, few streets were opened. What are known 
as the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth wards were 
partially lying vacant. Since the sixties, forty or 
more miles of streets have been opened and macada- 
mized or paved either with belgian block, brick or 
stone. As all will remember who have kept in 
touch with the city's extension, a hundred thousand 
dollars had to be paid the county for the opening of 
streets, whether in justice, we cannot say. Then, a 



276 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

broken reservoir, too, added another hundred thou- 
sand. 

But the greater amount of money expended since 
the year 1837 has been for water works improve- 
ments. To mention the amount annually voted 
during the past eighty years, would not serve any 
good purpose. However, startling as the smn may 
be if set forth in one item, we do not believe the 
people of Lancaster have ever regretted owning their 
own water works, nor will the time ever come when 
they will part with it to a private company. They 
will continue to bear their ills patiently so long as 
they feel they are getting the worth of their money, 
partly in filtered water, partly for industrial enter- 
prises. That mistakes have been made by experi- 
menting; others through bad management by 
coimcilmen without a thorough knowledge of re- 
quirements, all know. 

In the olden days, as has been shown, men entered 
councils to keep down the assessed valuation as 
well as the rate to the minimum. Another word for 
those who usually vote "straight" and do the 
kicking on their way home from the poles! The 
great majority of all parties thrust aside their con- 
viction if they have any concerning municipal 
affairs on the flimsy pretext that their party organi- 
zation must be held together for state and national 
elections to follow. 

Men enter councils for various reasons. Some 
consider it an honor, and an honor it should be to- 
day as in times gone by. Others use the office as a 
boost to something higher, and yet others to be 



NINE YEARS' RULE BY GEORGE SANDERSON 277 

able to say **I am one of the city fathers!" But 
why enlarge on what everybody knows. After all, 
the people of Lancaster should feel thankful that 
their city is governed as well as it is, considering that 
the hfe of a councilman is no earthly paradise, not- 
withstanding a few think it is and strive so hard for a 
reelection. In this also the chronicler knows whereof 
he writes. 

As has been said, it is a "Department of Instruc- 
tion" all cities need. If teachers need be examined 
before elected to teach the young idea how to shoot 
"straight," why overlook candidates charged with 
the making of the laws for the welfare of a town's 
citizenship .^^ 

However, when the matter is simamed up, and a 
reply from this or that councilman is solicited, his 
response is, "I have taken my cue from repre- 
sentatives and senators of the United States who 
will vote for every blessed measure conceived by 
mortal man, provided by so doing he can have in- 
cluded one of his own pet measures, a postoffice or 
maybe the widening of a stream in no way com- 
parable with our own Conestoga." 

Our Congressman, the best Lancaster County 
has ever had, has done wonders; and the only thing 
he has not yet undertaken is to have our Conestoga 
widened and made navigable clear through to the 
Chesapeake. But diuing these war times, it may 
be best that this important project be deferred, and 
for the reason that it would not be conducive to 
one's peace of mind to see a German submarine 
landing at Reigart's Landing! So, let us be thank- 



278 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

ful for such blessings as we have, clear water with all 
the germs removed. 

Again, what is lacking in our councils is closer 
relationship between the legislative and the ad- 
ministrative. It was Mayor Carpenter who, in a 
message to councils, complained of how httle influ- 
ence he had with councils. 

Apart from the same views expressed by a later 
mayor, for a good many years the chronicler has 
been looking forward to the time when the Suffra- 
gettes would enter the halls of councils to take up 
the work of good local government, but seeing what 
a mess the "Lady from Montana" has been making 
in the Lower House at Washington, it may after 
all be well to let matters rest instead of running the 
risk of going further and faring worse! 

Glancing thoughtfully back over the assessed 
valuation of 1865 we find it to have been but 
$3,500,000, with the tax-rate 90 cents on the hundred 
dollars, the highest ever known. But think of 
only a $3,500,000 property valuation! Evidently 
the assessor was abroad. In glancing over the 
hst of assessments the minutes show that properties 
in the business parts of the city were assessed so low, 
compared with what they are today, as to cause one 
to wonder why such a condition should ever have 
been tolerated. It is not so many years ago, how- 
ever, since Lancaster had its Board of Assessors 
under an act of the Legislature. But mark the 
result! An examination brought out the glaring 
fact that this Commission,while putting almost every- 
body's up to the top notch, had accidentally for- 
gotten to raise the valuation of their own properties. 



NINE YEARS' RULE BY GEORGE SANDERSON 279 

But what, it may be asked, is the remedy? There 
is only one town in Pennsylvania in which the people 
do not have to bother themselves over property 
valuation or the tax rate! They Hve along in their 
own quiet way, leaving the town's owner do for them 
what the voters of Lancaster cannot do for their own 
best interests. 

The town to which the chronicler refers is Hershey, 
better known as the "Chocolate" town, in which 
the dwellers bask in the sunshine of contentment, 
and, what is to them a blessing, they do not have to 
worry over either the tax collector or the ward 
assessor. It is a great pity that, when James 
Hamilton laid out our town in 1730, he had not the 
foresight to become sole owner of the town himself 
instead of turning it over to his paid agents to have 
town lots sold either for ready cash or on the ground- 
land plan to every "squatter" that might happen 
to come along with a few pounds, shillings and 
pence! Oh, it is dreadful, isn't it, my poor, over- 
charged taxpayer .^^ 

Reminded that all things must come to an end 
sooner or later, the octogenarian cannot divest him- 
self of the thought that in many respects the volume 
has failed to measure up to what certain friendly 
helpers had been led to expect through their gen- 
erosity. If then, disappointment follow, let the 
volume's shortcomings be charged to the war times 
during which it was written. 

There has seldom been a time during the past 
six months that the author's mind has not been 
distracted, yea, bewildered, confused over bulletins 



280 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

and newspaper reports, first over war with Mexico, 
later with that on the Eastern continent. Ordinarily 
during more peaceful times the very mention of 
writing the story of Lancaster would have brought 
forth a friendly, hearty response, but not so during 
war and rumors of war such as the country is passing 
through at the present time. With a young man, 
the writing of a book could afford to wait a more 
propitious season; not so with one who has reached 
his four score. He cannot turn the dial of time 
backward. And so, recaUing Lot's wife, and the 
punishment dealt out to her for looking backward, 
the chronicler has acted in conformity with a rule 
of his life, never to give up until the results of his 
efforts have been achieved. 

Every hour in the day came reports of what was 
going on at the recruiting station, recalling how, 
more than a half century ago, the boys went their 
way to do battle for their country. It has been 
said that opportunity awaits every young man, at 
times the man the opportunity. And then, but for 
the Civil War, there might never have been the 
great Abraham Lincoln, a Grant, Sheridan, Lee or a 
Sherman, names ever to be held revered among the 
world's greatest patriots. And as I sit reflecting 
comes the thought. Why should mothers worry over 
their sons going to war.^^ Let them not despair. 
A half score years hence, if still living, they may 
rejoice to see their sons holding positions of trust 
and honor in their own home town or city. So, 
my dear mothers, wives and sweethearts, do not 
worry, for whatever happens is for the best; for, as 



NINE YEARS' RULE BY GEORGE SANDERSON 281 

has been said, one of these days they will be coming 
home to be making of their city a still "Greater 
Lancaster." 

All honor then to the Committee whose labors in 
behalf of the "Red Cross" have been crowned with 
success. And as for the contributors to this fund, 
their liberality goes far to prove that the citizens of 
Lancaster are generous to the limit in contributing 
to every worthy cause. 

Suddenly reminded that there must be a hmit to 
even a book's pages, the volume will close with the 
names of the twenty-five magistrates, only one of 
whom has been elevated to the high position of 
Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, usually spok- 
en of as the "Red Rose" of Lancaster. 

And here they are since the city was first incor- 
porated in 1818: John Passmore, Samuel Carpenter, 
Nathaniel Lightner, John Mathiot, M. Carpenter, 
Christian KiefFer, Jacob Albright, John Zimmerman, 
Thomas Burrowes, George Sanderson, William Aug. 
Atlee, Frederick S. Pyfer, WiUiam D. Stauifer, 
John T. MacGonigle, D. P. Rosenmiller, William 

A. Morton, Edward Edgerley, Robert Clark, Edwin 
S. Smeltz, Simon Shissler, Dr. H. E. Muhlenberg, 
Chester W. Cummings, John P. McCaskey, Frank 

B. McClain, Harry L. Trout. 

In mention of the names of the twenty-five magis- 
trates, dating from 1818 to the present time, the 
minutes fail to state of a death occurring of anyone 
while in office. Only in one instance, and that in 
the case of Jacob Albright, was there a vacancy from 
this cause, and while Mayor Albright died the year 

20 



282 LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 

following, in 1856, he was too feeble to fill out the 
term of his office, resulting in the election of John 
Zinunerman, who held the office for a single term of 
one year. This yearly rotation of office went on 
until 1868 when, under the new charter, mayors 
were elected for two years, since changed by act of 
Assembly. 

Out of this galaxy of twenty-five, only eight are 
hving to help celebrate the incoming Centennial of 
the city as a municipahty, namely, Robert Clark, 
Edwin S. Smeltz, Simon Shissler, Chester W. Cum- 
mings, John P. McCaskey, Hon. Frank B. McClain, 
and the present incumbent, Harry L. Trout. Who 
v/ill be the next mayor to succeed the present chief 
magistrate, only time can tell. 

However, in finally concluding the volume, no 
greater reward can await our present mayor's out- 
going than to be able to say, "I have done my 
duty for the people, of the people and by the people 
of Lancaster." 

May he join with the octogenarian in saying, "I 
love my home better than any other home, my city 
better than any other city, my county better than 
any other county, my State better than any other 
in the Union, and my country better than any 
other country in the world!" 

With the foregoing as the school-boy's slogan, 
the probability is, on reaching his voting age, he 
will love his city to the extent of making it a " Greater 
Lancaster," rehgiously, socially, industriously and 
commercially. 

THE END. 



INDEX 



Act ordering "Nightly watch," Bats, in First Reformed church, 

192 
Baughman, John, 86 
Bausman, John, 119 
Bausman, William, 60, 118 
"Berks, Old," formed from Lan- 
caster County, 13 
Bickham, James, 118 
"Big Stump," bathing resort, 

201 
"Black Maria," 139 
"Blowing-up" meat by butchers, 

38, 81; fine for, 39, 81 
Blunson, Samuel, 50 
Boel, WiUiam, 86 
Bomberger, John, 115 
Bomberger, George H., 158 
Bond, first engraved, issued by 

city, copy of, 238 
Boogh, Christian, 46 
Borough of Lancaster, chartered, 

23 
Boude, Samuel, 118 
Bowman, Mary, 167 
Bowman, Rev. Samuel, 58, 167 
Bread, sold by weight, 39 
Brigade, old women's, 161 
Brintenal, Joseph, tallest con- 
stable, 138 
British, burning of National 
Capitol by, 112, 113; de- 
parture of, 113 
Brown, Luke, 115 
Brussels carpet, story of, 169-175 
Bryan, Samuel, 91 
Buchanan, James, 259-260; an- 



100 
Administration Building, 269; 

erected, 1818, 162 
Albright, Jacob, 246, 281 
Anderson's Ferry & New Haven 

Turnpike, certificate of stock, 

83-84 
Andre, Major, prisoner in Lan- 
caster, 64, 65 
Assessment, kept low, 136 
Atlee, WiUiam Augustus, 118, 

271, 281; Chief Burgess, 49; 

oath of, 46, 47, 50, 54 

Bachman, John, 127 

Bakers, pubhc, 39 

Bank, Farmers', chartered in 

1810, 107 
Bank, first, antipathy against, 

108 
Bank, first established in Lan- 
caster in 1803, 106; fails, 107 
Bank of Pennsylvania, branch 

of, estabhshed in Lancaster, 

106; fails, 107 
Bankers, various kinds, 107 
Banking in Lancaster in eaily 

days, 108 
Barracks, for troops, fitted up, 

64; how prisoners escaped 

from, 65, 66 
Barton, David R., 114 
Barton, George W., 165, 178 
Barvel, John, 86 
Bather, anecdote concerning, 202 



283 



284 



LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 



ecdote, 122, 123; letter from 

to Mayor Carpenter, 229; 

starts coal fund for poor of 

city, 229 
"Bucket brigade," 43 
Buengard, George, 114, 115, 116 
Burd, James, 118 
Burgess, appointed by charter of 

Lancaster Borough, 24; first 

action of, 25 
Burgesses, chief, list of, 118 
Burgesses, Hst of, 119 
Burrowes, Thomas H., 266, 271, 

281. 
Butchering a profitable business 

in Old Lancaster, 90 
Butchers, "blowing up" meat, 

38, 81 ; fine for, 39, 81 ; bringing 

dogs to market, prohibited, 80; 

list of in new market house, 90 ; 

not to sell meat on Sabbath 

between nine in the morning 

and five in the afternoon, 25; 

stalls for in new market house 

to be numbered, 89; trouble 

with, 80, 81 
Byerle, Michael, 23, 24 

Calder, George, 215 

Canal at Wrightsville, remains 
of still visible, 133 

Canal, to Baltimore and Phila- 
delphia, cost of, per mile, 133 

Capital, of Pennsylvania, Lan- 
caster the, 185; ambition of 
Lancaster to become, 184-187 

Capitol of United States, de- 
stroyed by enemy, 112 

Captain of ward, duties of, 111 

Carpenter, Emanuel, 52, 53 

Carpenter, Henry, 130 

Carpenter, James C, 241, 242 



Carpenter, Mayor, 278; letter 
to, 228-229 

Carpenter, Michael, 222, 281 

Carpenter, Samuel, 114, 116, 
119, 281; becomes mayor, 132 

Carpet, Brussels, story of, 169- 
175 

Center Square, court house 
advertised for sale, 240-241; 
piked by County Commis- 
sioners after complaint by 
burgesses, 92 

Certificates, loan, ordered de- 
stroyed, 210 

Chapmen, violation of law by, 
35 

Charcoal, burning of, by black- 
smiths, penalty for, 38. 

Charter of Borough of Lancaster, 
24 

Chief burgesses, Hst of, 118 

Chimneys, catching fire, danger 
of, 37; penalty for, 37 

Chimney-sweeps, 37, 38 

Christ, John, 115 

Circular, old, on graft, 126-130 

City Hall, no meetings of bur- 
gesses or councils in, down to 
1854, 91; ordered erected in 
1795, 90; specifications for, 
90-91; suit against Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania for 
refusing to pay rent for use of, 
91; ownership of, disputed 
until 1854, 100; ownership of. 
City Solicitor instructed to 
inquire into, 96; ownership of, 
opinion by City Sohcitor on, 
96-99 

City loan, redemption of, report 
on, 198-199 

City, management of, 187 



INDEX 



285 



City scales, 219-220 
City Solicitor, instructed to in- 
quire into ownership of city 

hall, 96; report on, 96-99 
Civil War, economy after, 273 
Clark, Robert, 281, 282 
Clerk of burgesses, manifold 

duties of, 41 
Coal fund, started, 229 
Cochran, John J., 246 
Conestoga Indians murdered by 

Paxton men, 43-45 
Conestoga Navigation Company, 

directors and investors in, 133; 

purpose of, 133; formed, 132; 

city invests $10,000 in, 132; 

sold by sheriff, 133; end of 

litigation with, 134 
Conestoga National Bank, deed 

for plot of, 31 
Conestoga River, water pumped 

to city from, 176 
"Conestoga," steamboat, 215 
Congress, United States, in 

Leincaster, 184 
Constable, duties of, in borough 

of Lancaster, 138 
Continental currency, 80 
Cookson, Thomas, 23, 24, 118 
Cooper, William, 114 
Cope, Caleb, 119; Major Andre 

a prisoner in house of, 65 
Cord wood, sold for benefit of 

corporation, if deficient in 

measure, 40, 81 
Corporation Book, 22-32, 52, 

94, 185, 242 
Councils, elect John Passmore 

first Mayor, at salary of $200 

per annum, 122; special meet- 
ing of, to petition railroad to 

come through Lancaster, 142 



Court house, erected in 1730, 61; 
treaty conference in, 62; de- 
struction of by fire, 62; second, 
description of, 63; Center 
Square, advertised for sale, 
240-241; Center Square, dis- 
mantled in 1852, 233 

Cummings, Chester W., 281, 282 

Debt, permanent, of city in 1830, 

135 
de Graff, John, 90. 
Dehuff, John, 24, 118. 
Dehuff, Henry, 23, 60, 118 
Demuth, Henry, 131; quoted on 
"Sun" and "Union" hose 
companies, 43 
Dering, Henry, 72, 87, 88, 118 
Dickson, Mary, postmistress, 

102, 246 
Dickson, WiUiam, 116 
Diffenderfer, Michael, 60 
Diffenderfer, Philip, 87, 88, 119 
Duchman, Jacob, 115 
Duffield, George, Controller Gen- 
eral, uses City Hall, 91 

Eberman, John, 119 
Edgerley, Edward, 281 
Edward Coleman, packet boat, 

2, 125, 213, 214, 215 
Edwards, Thomas, 17 
Eicholtz, Jacob, 115 
Eicholtz, Leonard, 119 
EUiott, Johnny, 140 
Ellmaker, Amos, 178 
Episcopal church, described, 57, 

58 
Evans, Thomas, 86 

Fair week, annual, 56, 57 
Fairs, revived, 66, 67 



286 



LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 



F. & A. M., Lodge No. 43, 42, 

51, 87, 88, 89, 91 
Farmers' B£iiik chartered in 

1810, 107 
Federalist, recipe for making, 

131-132 
Ferry, Stans, 61 
Finance Committee, report of 

in 1865, 273-274; report of, 

in 1831, 135 
Firearms, shooting of, pro- 
hibited, 40 
Fire companies, seek financial 

assistance, 220 
Fire department changed from 

volunteer to paid service, 268 
Folke, John, 23, 24 
Fortney, Melchor, 258 
Franciscus, Christopher, 90 
Franciscus, Stophel, 60 
Franklin and Marshall College, 

procession to new site, 253 
Franklin, Ben, "Poor Richard," 

36 
Frazer, Reah, clerk of Select 

Councils, 137, 158, 179 
Free, John, 86 
Frey, Jacob, house of, the usual 

place of meeting of burgesses, 

116; meeting of burgomasters 

at home of, 34 
Fulton Hall, 241, 242, 243, 246; 

erected on site of old jail, 104 
Fulton, Robert, 104 
Fultz, Bobby, 236 

Gambling, various species of, 103 
Gas introduced into city, 216- 

219; opposition to, 218 
Gentlemen's Jockey Club, 249 
Gettysburg, battle of, news car- 
ried to Lancaster, 114 



Getz, John, 217 

Gibson Inn, 17, 21, 32, 82 

Gibson still, 26, 56, 68 

Ginger-horse decorator, "Tood- 
ler," 237 

Gordon, historian, quoted, 29 

Graeff, Jacob, 86 

Graeff, Sebastian, 23, 24, 119 

Groff, Andrew, 87 

Graft, a century ago, 126; in 
councils, resolution regarding, 
263; old circular on, 126-130 

Gratz Brothers, 47 

Griest, Elwood, 246, 247 

Grove, Marks, letter to, 130-131 

Gruel, Manamy, 103 

Guns, fines for firing, 94 

Hager, Christopher, 90; and son, 

erect Fulton Hall, 105 
Hager, EUen H., 102, 246 
Hager, H. W., 246; postmaster, 

102 
Hahn, Daniel, 130 
Hall, Charles, 119 
Hambright, Frederick, 126, 129, 

130 
Hambright, George, 113 
Hamilton, appropriating the 

name, in different businesses, 

20 
Hamilton, James, 186, 233; 

founder of Lancaster, 14-18, 

19, 23, 24, 27, 41, 60, 96 
Hamilton, WiUiam, 113, 119, 246 
Hammerly, George W., 246 
Hand, General Edward, 104, 

118, 176, 177, 233; elected 

burgess in 1789, 72; letter by, 

72-76 
Hannigan, Tommy, 140 
Harrison, William Henry, 212 



INDEX 



287 



Hatz, John, 126 
Haverstick, George, 133 
Hazen, General, testimonial of 

regard to, 64 
Heitshu, Philip, 115 
Henry, Ann, 167 
Henry, Joseph, 87 
Henry, Wilham, 43, 46, 101, 119 
Hensel, Freddy, 236 
Hess, Michael, 86 
"Hickory" town, why named, 82 
High constable, salary of, 61 
Hobson, John, 46, 64, 80, 118 
Hoff, John, 119 
Hoover, Jos., 90 
Hoppel, Owen, 153 
Hose house ordered built, 42 
Houston, James, cashier of first 

Lancaster bank, 106 
Hubley, Bernhard, 119 
Hubley, John, 86, 88, 115, 119 
Hubley, Michael, 118, 119 
Hubley, Rosina, 133 
Hugsters, complaints against, 

and fines for, 61 
Humes, Samuel, 115 
Hurford, Lewis, 213 
Huston, Mattheus, 109 

Incendiaries, patrol for protec- 
tion against, 110 
Income of city in 1830, 135 
Isle of Memory, 195 

Jacks, James, 119 

Jackson, Andrew, 199; death of, 

221; resolutions on, 221-222 
Jail, old, dismantUng of, 226-227 
Jenkins, William, 115 
Jewish graveyard, laid out in 

1747, 47 
Johns, Jacob, 86 



Johnston, Abraham, 23, 24 
Junket trip on "Edward Cole- 
man," 214-215 

Kaegy, Jacob, 119 
Kauffman, Christian, 86 
Kauffman, Solomon, 90 
Keenan, Father, 59 
Keffer, Henry, 114 
KeUy, William, 86 
Kevinski, John, 269 
Kieffer, Christian, 240, 281 
Kirkpatrick, William, 87, 114, 

116 
Krug, Jacob, 88 
Kuhn, Adam Simon, 118 
Kuhn, Frederick, 87, 119 

Lafayette, General, 163-164, 
166; death of, 165; resolu- 
tions on, 165-166 

Lambard, Uriah, 90 

Lamps, on streets and alleys, 
set up first in 1798, 102 

Lancaster, a city after being 
borough for seventy-six years, 
121; beginnings of, 10; in 
1730, 11; chartered as a 
borough, 23; incorporated 
into a city, 114-116; in past 
Revolutionary times, 55-57; 
resources of, in early days, 28 

Lancaster City Fractional Cur- 
rency, 199 

Lancaster City Gas Company, 
given right to lay pipes in 
city, 217 

Lancaster City Loan, scrip, 199 

Lancaster Jockey Club, 249-252; 
rules of, 250-251 

Lancaster Corporation Book, 
long-lost volume, 22-32, 94 



288 



LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 



Lancaster County, Lebanon 
County formed from, 13; 
"Old Berks" formed from, 13; 
separation from Chester, 13 

Lancaster Locomotive and Ma- 
chine Manufacturing Com- 
pany, failure of, 265 

Lancaster Locomotive Com- 
pany, 264 

Lancaster, Susquehanna and 
Slackwater Navigation Com- 
pany, 133, 213 

Land owners, panic among, 112 

Lauman, L., 88 

Lawman, Ludwick, 46 

Lebanon County, formed from 
Lancaster County, 13 

Leibly, John, 90 

Leibley, John, Jr., 90 

Lemmon, Jacob, 116 

Lenhere, Phihp, 119 

Letter of General Hand giving 
advantages of Lancaster, 73- 
76 

Levy, A. L., and Joseph Simon, 
merchants £Uid fur traders, 47 ; 
unique advertisement of, 47-49 

Liberty BeU, spirit of, 4 

Liberty Bonds, 239 

Liberty Loan, 270 

Lieibly, Andrew, 90 

Light, John, 119 

Lightner, Nathaniel, 281; be- 
comes mayor in 1824, 132 

Lightner, Newton, 242 

Linngean Society, 269 

Lintner, John, 133 

Liquors, cider and spiritous, fine 
for exposing for sale, 40 

List of mayors of city, 281 

Loan certificates, ordered de- 
stroyed, 210 



Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M., 42, 
51, 87, 88, 89, 91, 243, 245, 
259, 261, 262; proposals from 
in reference to building new 
market house, 87-88; arrest 
of Grand Master of, 111 

Lowman, Henry, 55 

Lutz, Stephen, 90 

MacGonigle, John T., 281 

Malone, John E., 247 

Manheim, Petersburg and Lan- 
caster Plank Road Company, 
251 

Market, forestalling, citizens pro- 
test against, 137 

Market house, erected, 42; new, 
building of considered, 87-88; 
ordered erected, 88; finished 
in 1798, 89; list of butcher 
stalls in, 90; search for favor- 
able site, 168; dispute over 
ownership of, 261-262 

Market houses, four new, loan 
authorized to pay for, 245; 
report of committee on, 245 

Marshall, James H., 246 

Mathiot, John, 188, 189, 190, 
200, 213, 222, 281; elected 
mayor in 1831, 135; death of, 
189; resolution on, 189 

MaxweU, Hugh, 133 

Mayer, George, 46 

Mayer, George Lewis, 133 

Mayors, fist of, 281 

McCaskey, John P., 281, 282 

McClain, Frank B., 281, 282 

Mechanic's Society, 207-208 

Memory, Isle of, 195 

Metzger, John, 24 

Metzger, Philip, 90 

Militia of state called out, after 



INDEX 



289 



destruction of national capitol, 
112 

Maier, Abe, 140 

Miller, Elmer, 126 

Miller, John, 118, 119 

MiUer, John, Jr., 87, 88 

MiUer, S. Clay, 247 

Mitchell, James, 17 

Mitchell, W. B., report on run- 
ning water for city, 179-181 

Montgomery, John R., 178; 
elected president of Select 
Councils, 137 

Moore, Ann, 246 

Moore, George, 246; postmaster, 
102 

Morton, William A., 281 

Moser, Jeremiah, 115 

Muhlenberg, Dr. H. E., 281 

Musselman, P., 86 

Musser, George, 115 

National foundry, hunting site 

for, 219 
Negro, white, advertisement of- 
fering reward for return of, 

101 
Newspaper carrier, Christmas 

custom of, 247 
Newspapers, daily, none prior 

to 1756, 36 
New Year's, fines for firing guns 

on, 94 
Nightly watch, 100 
North American Hotel, 40, 56, 

153, 168 
Nuisances, elimination of, 51 

Old Trinity, built in 1736, 58 
Ordinance admitting Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad to city, 156- 
159 



Pall-bearers, old-time custom of, 
124 

Parr, WiUiam, 64, 118 

Passenger station built by Penn- 
sylvania Railroad Co., 266 

Passmore, John, 272, 281; ap- 
pointed first chief magistrate 
of Lancaster city, 121; of 
Quaker ancestry, 122; elected 
first mayor, councils, 122; 
fines himself twenty shiUings, 
123; weight, 124; retires to 
profession of law, 126; death 
of, 124 

Patrol, uncalled-for arrests by, 
111 

Paxton men, 43-45 

Peddlers, violation of law by, 35 

Peelor, Jacob, 159 

Penn, John, 46 

Penn Square, 234 

Penn, Thomas, 24 

Pennsylvania Legislature, ne- 
glected to pay rental of ten- 
plate stove, 108 

Pennsylvania Railroad erect sta- 
tion, 155; granting property 
to, 155; ordinance admitting, 
to city, 156-159; grant of 
property and privileges to, 266 

Plank road, 251 

Philadelphia and Columbia Rail- 
road, 178 

Philadelphia in 1861, 5 

Pierce, Caleb, 17 

Pilgrim Fathers, 41 

Pinkerton, Henry, 119 

Pioneer Hotel, 153 

Pohcemen, modern, 139 

Porter, David, Governor of 
Pennsylvania, 211; visits Lan- 
caster, 212 



290 



LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 



Porter, George B., 133; resigns 
as president of Select Councils, 
137 

Postlethwait's, 15 

Postmasters, list of, 246-247 

Poultney, Thomas, 47 

Promoters buy up real estate, 30; 
stranger, 134 

Property tax, first laid in 1812, 
111 

Property taxation, system of, 
inaugurated in 1791, 82 

Provisions, current price of, in 
1789, 76 

Public offices, building of, or- 
dered, 85-86 

Pyfer, Frederick S., 281 

Quakers in Lancaster County, 12 

Railroad, efforts made to have 
enter city, 141-159; incoming 
of, advertisement, 141 

Railroad engines, names of early, 
156 

Railroad Committee, report of, 
in 1833, 146-148; report of, 
in 1834, 149-152 

Railroad, Philadelphia and Col- 
umbia, 178 

Ralffe, James, 118 

Rathfon, Jacob, 178 

Rathvon, S. S., 269 

Recipe for making Federalist, 
131-132 

Redemption of city loan, 198- 
199 

Reed, Peter, 114, 116 

Reichenbach, WiUiam, 118 

Reigart, Adam, 115, 118, 133 

Reigart, Adam, Jr., president of 
first Lancaster bank, 106 



Reigart, H. M., 245, 246 
Reigart, I. Franklin, 271 
Reigart, Jacob, 72, 80, 118 
Reinoehl, Adam C, 247 
Reitzel, John, 114, 116, 119 
Report of Finance Committee, 

in 1831, 135; in 1865, 273-274 
Report of Railroad Committee 

in 1833, 146-148; in 1834, 

149-152 
Revolutionary Daughters, 160 
Reynolds, John, 115 
Richards, Luther, 230 
Rio Grande, soldiers departing 

for, 1 
Roberts, John, 86, 119 
Robinson, Moncure, 143 
Robinson, Thomas, 86 
RosenmiUer, D. P., 281 
Ross, George, 52, 119; letter of 

thanks to, 53; answer of, 54 
Ross, Patton, 159 
Ross, WiUiam, 80 
Ross, Wm. B., 126, 129; letter 

by, 130-131 
Russel, Philip, 90 

Salaries of city officials in 1865, 

274-275 
Sanderson, George, 271-272, 281 ; 

clerk of the burgesses, 26 
Scales, city, 219-220 
Schaeffer, E., 158 
Scott, Joshua, 143, 145 
Segar, Frederick, 86 
Selling goods on the Sabbath 

forbidden, 26 
Shaffner, Casper, 53, 119 
Shaffner, Charles, 86 
Shearer, Jacob, 115 
Shearer's distillery, 79 
Shindel, Jacob, 158 



INDEX 



291 



Shinplasters, 198 

Shissler, Simon, 281, 282 

Shoemaker, anecdote concern- 
ing, 169 

Simon, Joseph, 47 

Sketch Book of Pennsylvania, 
quoted, 232-233 

Slaymaker, A., 99 

Slaymaker, H. E., 246 

Slaymaker, Jasper, 133 

Slaymaker, Samuel, 116 

Smeltz, Edwin S., 281, 282 

Smith, Charles, 87, 88 

Smith, Henry, 130 

Smith, Joseph T., 115 

Smith, William, 86 

Smoking on streets, 94 

Snyder, Governor, appoints John 
Passmore first chief magistrate 
of Lancaster city, 121 

Society of Master Mechanics, 208 

Soldiers departing for the Rio 
Grande, 1 

Spencer, Louis W., 247 

State capital, ambition of Lan- 
caster to become, 184-187; 
Lancaster the, 185 

State capitol, efforts to have it 
removed to Lancaster, 168 

State house purchased by city, 
245 

Staufifer, WiUiam D., 281 

Steinman, Frederick, 118 

Steinman, John F., 116, 133, 178 

Stevens, Thaddeus, 254, 256-259 

Stiff, Harry, 193 

Stone, John, 246 

Stone, Luddwig, 119 

Stove, ten-plate, rental of, not 
paid by Legislature, 108; un- 
successful attempt to locate, 
110 



Stove, ten-plate, 185 

Street extensions, damages for, 

224 
"Sun" hose company, 43 
Swarr, Hiram B., 246 
Swine running at large, 80 

Tax, property, first laid in 1812, 

111; rate, kept at minimum, 

135 
Taxation, property, system of, 

inaugurated in 1791, 82 
Taylor, General, in Lancaster, 

231 
Taylor, Zachary, president of 

United States, death of, 230 
Thackara, Jim, 140 
Thomas, George, 24 
Tippecanoe, hero of, 212 
Tipphng on Sabbath, fine for, 

25 
"Tommy, Blind," 140 
Trout, H. L., 247, 281, 282 
Turbett, Samuel, 246 

"Union" hose company, 43 

Van Camp, Squire, 103 
Voght, Christian, 46, 119 
Volunteers during War of 1812, 

how supplied, 113; to march 

to Baltimore, 113 

War of 1812, consequences of, 
112 

Warrall, Peter, 119 

Watch, nightly, provisions of act 
ordering, 100 

Water, pumped to city from 
Conestoga River, 176; revenue 
from, in 1839, 200-201; run- 
ning, for city, leading advo- 



292 



LANCASTER: OLD AND NEW 



cates of, 178-179; running, for 
city, report of engineer, con- 
cerning, 179-181; works, cost 
of, up to 1839, 200 

Weaver, John, 115 

Webb, James, 119 

Webster, John, 57 

Weitzel, George, Town Clerk, 
116 

Whitlelock, Isaac, 119 

Whitmonday, fairs on, 67 

White negro, advertisement of- 
fering reward for return of, 101 

Whiteside, Abraham, 86 

Widow and widower, story of, 
194 

Wilcox, Henry, 246 

Wiley, Thomas C, 221 

Wilhelm, Adam, 119 



"William and Sarah," bricks 

brought over in, 93 
Williamson, H. S., 195 
Wise, Charlie, 258 
Wood, Ingham, 115 
Worrall, Peter, 23, 24 
Wright, A., & Nephew, 215 
Wright, John, 15, 17, 50 
Wright's Ferry, 15, 18 

Yost, John, 90 
Young, Baker, 140 
Young, Mathias, 23, 24 
Young Men's Christian Associa- 
tion, 246 

Zagnr, Nathaniel, 86 
Zantzinger, Paul, 86, 88, 89, 118 
Zimmerman, John, 266, 281, 282 



t:J 



f I 



